The Waccassassa Water & Wastewater Cooperative
WC3 Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Waccassassa Water and Wastewater Cooperative?
A: The Waccassassa Water and Wastewater Cooperative is a regional water supply and wastewater disposal cooperative with three member cities: Bronson, Otter Creek and Cedar Key. The planned infrastructure includes a water treatment plant and wastewater treatment plant, located in Bronson, and approximately 35 miles of water and wastewater pipeline.
Q: Why is the WC3 regional cooperative needed?
A: Water quantity and quality are issues statewide. Cedar Key and Otter Creek residents want access to clean water and the ability to safely dispose of sewage and wastewater, all while protecting their natural resources. Bronson needs to update its aging wastewater treatment facility that will not meet state regulations for nitrate removal in a few years.
Q: Why a regional system?
A: Individually, no one community could afford this infrastructure, but together, with the support of grants and state appropriations and/or loan forgiveness, this regional system can be affordable and meet the needs of the communities for many decades to come, including meeting growth needs. Costs split three ways based on need and usage makes the system more affordable.
Q: How long has WC3 been planned?
A: This regional water system began back in 2021 with a feasibility study by Wetland Solutions. Some of the needs identified in the study included:
- Poor source water quality in the eastern two-thirds of the study area (starting just west of Bronson) that impacts Otter Creek, Cedar Key, and unincorporated areas of Levy County,
- Expensive water treatment to address the poor-quality raw water,
- A lack of centralized wastewater collection and treatment outside of Cedar Key and Bronson,
- Potential contamination of private wells during flooding events in unincorporated areas of Levy County,
- Treated wastewater from Cedar Key being infiltrated to the Gulf of Mexico,
- The potential loss of Cedar Key’s aquaculture industry due to a wastewater spill,
- Vulnerability of existing water supplies and wastewater treatment in Cedar Key and coastal areas due to saltwater intrusion, storm surge, and sea level rise,
- Large numbers of septic systems within the Town of Bronson and in unincorporated areas of Levy County that have the potential to impact groundwater supplies, springs, and the coastal ecosystem.
Q: What stage is WC3 in?
A: This project is still in the planning stage and conceptual design stage. Many things still need to fall into place for this regional water and wastewater system to make it to the actual design stage and it is many years away from construction, if it happens at all. Still to be worked out are how much WC3 can get in grants and other funding. Also, a test well will be drilled in September at the Bronson site to determine if the quality and quantity of water is available. If not, the plan stops. If nearby wells, such as Bronson’s current well, are affected, the project will stop. There are many steps yet to fall into place for the WC3 to become a reality.
Q: How much has the Town of Bronson spent on this process so far?
A: Nothing. No money has been spent from any city on WC3. More than $800,000 in grants have been secured to pay for the project thus far with more expected to be secured in the future. Additionally, loans with more than 50% principal forgiveness for water and nearly 80% principal forgiveness for wastewater are committed to the project by Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection.
Q: How will WC3 work?
A: Essentially, WC3 is a wholesaler for water and wastewater. Cedar Key and Otter Creek will buy water from WC3, which it will then sell to their residents. All facilities past WC3 and pipes to residents’ houses are the responsibility of the three communities. Bronson can choose whether to use WC3’s water or water from its own well. No water is paid for until the valve is opened and meter starts running. Wastewater is essentially the same. Cedar Key will have to build a new facility seven miles off the island, which will be where they hook up to WC3s wastewater pipe. Each community will bill their own customers and be responsible for the pipes within their cities. Rates have not been determined as yet, but it will need to be affordable to the communities’ residents to proceed past the planning stage.
Q: Are there any other examples of a regional water and wastewater facility in Florida?
A: Yes, the Polk Regional Water Cooperative was created to proactively identify alternative water resources and projects that ensure the future sustainability of their regional water supply.
Graphics courtesy of Dewberry, Wetland Solutions and Wright-Pierce.
WC3 meeting dates and times:
- Wednesday, September 18th @ 1:00 PM (510 3rd Street, Cedar Key)
- Wednesday, October 16th @ 1:00 PM (555 2nd Avenue, Otter Creek)
- Wednesday, November 20th @ 1:00 PM (660 East Hathaway Avenue, Bronson)
- Wednesday, December 18th @ 1:00 PM (510 3rd Street, Cedar Key)
The purpose of these meetings is to discuss possible funding sources, adopt by-laws, adopt an interim budget, adopt a purchasing policy, plan for the administration and financial management of the Cooperative, and conduct other business at the discretion of the Board.
Several members of the Bronson Town Council and the Cedar Key Water & Sewer District Board of Commissioners may be in attendance at the above-described public meetings, and therefore notice is hereby given that such meetings shall also constitute public meetings of the Bronson Town Council and the Cedar Key Water & Sewer District Board of Commissioners. The Bronson Town Council and the Cedar Key Water & Sewer District Board of Commissioners will not take official action at the above-described meetings. This notice is given to ensure compliance with the Sunshine Law.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Bronson Town Manager at 352.486.2354 or email at townmanager@townofbronson.org. Persons with a disability needing a special accommodation should contact Sue Beaudet via the above-described contact information at least two (2) days prior to the meeting.
If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at the above-described public meetings, he or she will need a record of the proceedings, and that, for such purpose, he or she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.