Beach Sewer Service A Necessary Utility

SEWAGE COLLECTION SERVICE FOR the beaches areas of Gulf County is one of the better ideas to come down the pike, as far as we are concerned. The City of Port St. Joe has a treatment plant, just sitting and waiting for the effluent. It?s already built and permitted. The idea is already more than half-way installed. The hard part is done. Getting a permit to operate a treatment plant, these days, is no small matter. The permit is the most valuable piece of the necessary equipment.

The beaches will be getting a bargain, no matter how much they have to pay to tie into the existing treatment plant.

SUCH A DEAL COULD HELP FINANCIALLY strapped Florida Coast Paper Company, too. The deal with the firm?s predecessor spelled out the possibility of some other community joining in the operation of the treatment facility. Any new community will assume a share of the cost of the treatment plant, reducing the amount current customers are called on to bear.

It?s a win-win situation.

The treatment plant would cost several million dollars more at today?s prices than it cost in 1970s dollars. A considerable savings could be realized immediately, for any new customers which wish to join the consortium which operates the plant, currently.

SUCH SERVICES WOULD LESSEN the restrictions of building homes in the beach area, also. The furnishing of a central water supply some few years ago has relaxed the health requirements of the beach communities considerably already.

The availability of a central sewage collection system will further relax the requirements.

Mexico Beach is already tied into a sewer partnership and is currently installing the system. It will cost them money, but the benefits will more than make up for the cost.

It?s too bad Gulf County couldn?t get in on the act earlier and join Mexico Beach in its project, with both communities coming to the Port St. Joe treatment plant. It would have saved the Mexico Beach customers some money.

With the public hearing this week end about rerouting Highway 98 through the communities, the sewer offering for both communities will be the key to their becoming a force to be reckoned with in days to come.