Projects | St. Lucie County, FL

The MSBU ballots were mailed to property owners within the MSBU Boundary. The completed ballots received yielded a result of 40% for, and 60% against the project.

Currently pursuing funding opportunities to reduce assessment costs.

St. Lucie County Parks Department is constructing a 12-inch water main along East Seminole Street, terminating at Lakewood Regional Park.

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Lakewood Park MSBU
Potable Water and Fire Protection
Fact Sheet - Ballot
May 2022

How is an MSBU boundary determined?

An MSBU boundary is legally determined by the properties which will derive a special benefit from
the service or improvement. Here, that boundary would be the Lakewood Park Community.

Who would be the potable water utility service provider for my home if the improvements are constructed?

St. Lucie County Utilities (SLCU).

What improvements would be included in the MSBU?

Potable water mains, fire hydrants, and water meters. You would be responsible to connect your house plumbing system to the SLCU potable water meter at the edge of the right of way next to your property.

Will I have fire protection for my home?

Yes. The installation of fire hydrants on the new potable water mains will provide the County Fire Department access to potable water from the fire hydrants to fight fires, with the installation of fire hydrants to be located within 500 feet of each home or property. Property Owners could receive significant property insurance discounts for having fire hydrant protection. Please check with your insurance company to see what discounts might be available to you.

How is my assessment determined?

The assessment amount levied on each property is determined by dividing the total project costs (design, permitting, water mains, fire hydrants, restoration repairs, etc.) by the total number of equivalent residential connections (ERCs) for the entire MSBU. Generally, each single-family residential property is considered one (1) ERC, and each business/commercial property would be a multiple of an ERC based on the relative water demand compared to a single-family residential property.

Do I have assessment payment options?

You may prepay your assessment if that is your preference. Alternatively, you may finance your assessment over a period of up to twenty years on your Property Tax Bill: your property will be assessed for the cost of the Project, plus interest and financing fees over the life of the financing, and your property will automatically be placed on the tax roll with the annual assessment collected along with your annual property taxes. You may pay off the principal balance of your assessment at any time to avoid interest payments from that point forward.
Property owners that choose to prepay the assessment prior to the County obtaining financing for the project will avoid annual interest and financing fees.

What is the maximum proposed assessment amount for one ERC (connection)?

Maximum assessment amount: $14,724.59

Annual assessment amount: $1,107.58 (or $92.30 a month if escrowed)

* The estimated annual payment for this project is calculated at 4.25% interest for a twenty-year term. The actual interest rate will be known after financing is obtained and is expected to be lower.

Prepay assessment amount: $12,864.57

Once construction of the Project is completed, if the Project cost comes in under budget and the assessment was prepaid, a refund of the proportionate savings will be issued to the owner of record. If the assessment is being collected annually along with property taxes, the remaining assessment balance will be adjusted, thereby lowering annual payments or shortening the payment term.

Once assessments are levied can they be increased?

No. Once assessments are levied the amount would remain the same (or be reduced if the Project cost comes in under budget).

How will votes be tabulated?

Each ERC assigned to your property is one vote. Please return your ballot by June 30, 2022, only submitted ballots will be counted.

If I sell my property does the assessment have to be paid in full?

No, the assessment will run with the property and is not a personal obligation of the property owner.

Do I have to connect my home/business to the potable water system?

SLCU will not require an existing home or business to connect to the SLCU potable water system; however, the Health Department and SLCU would require all new construction be connected to the potable water system.

Can I keep my well?

If you do choose to connect to the potable water system, you may also keep your well for purposes of irrigating your lawn, filling your pool, etc., but you will have to isolate the well from your in-home potable water system.

When the electricity goes out to my home will I have water service?

Yes, SLCU water treatment facilities are equipped with large onsite generators that provide back-up electric power during power outages, which should allow SLCU to continue to treat and pump water into its water distribution system during emergency outages.

I own multiple adjacent properties. Do I have to pay for each lot I own?

Generally, each lot developed with a single-family residence and each vacant lot capable of being developed with a single-family residence is assessed and assigned at least one ERC. However, property owners may have the opportunity to submit a restrictive covenant agreement to reduce the number of dwelling units that could potentially be constructed based upon zoning regulations which would lower the number of ERCs assigned to the property and therefore lower the amount of the assessment imposed against the property.

What are some of the benefits of a centralized potable water system versus well water?

Fire hydrant availability for firefighters

No well system maintenance costs (pumps, piping)

No periodic well rehabilitation or replacement costs

No well water conditioner costs (rust, iron and Sulphur)

No salt additives costs

No well electricity costs

No loss of water service during power outages

No chance of well cross-contamination from on-site wastewater disposal systems

Water and Wastewater Pipeline Expansion Project

Project Status: Funding received and aligned. All Design contracts have been issues for the following sites:

Midway Road FM Expansion
- 30% design completed
Indrio Road WM and FM Expansion
- 90% design completed
Okeechobee Road WM and FM Expansion to Seminole Property
- 30% design completed
Okeechobee Road WM and FM Expansion SR70
- 30% design completed
S Header Canal WM and FM Expansion
- 30% design completed
N US Hwy 1 WM and FM to the Indian River County Line
- 60% design completed

Lift Station Upgrade and Rehabilitation Project

Vero Beach Interconnect Project

SLCU North County Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion

North County Master Repump Station

AMR Meter Changeout Project

Oak Drive Water Main Loop Project

Project Description: The St. Lucie County Utilities District will be constructing a new 6” water main loop in front of your property located at 2406 Oak Drive. The water main loop will connect to the existing water mains at the intersection of Moorings Lane and Atlantic Beach Boulevard, and the intersection of Sea Oats Drive and Oak Drive.

Status: Design and permitting contracts have been issued. Construction estimated start date is November 20, 2022. Project is 66% complete.

Successfully Completed Projects

North County Regional Water Treatment Facility Upper Floridan Aquifer Test Well

Description: Construction of a 16-inch test well into the Upper Florida Aquifer to acquire the data necessary for the design of the North County Regional Water Treatment Facility. The full-sized well will be converted to a production well at the proposed water treatment facility.

Start Date: February 2016

Projected Finish Date: May 2016

Budget: $372,500

Holiday Pines WWTF Tertiary Treatment and Reuse System

Description: The Holiday Pines WWTF Tertiary Treatment and Reuse System project added the facilities necessary to produce irrigation quality reuse water at the Holiday Pines WWTF.

Start Date: March 2014

Finish Date: March 2015

Budget: $609,800

North Hutchinson Island WWTF Expansion to 850,000 gpd

Description: Expansion of the North Hutchinson Island WWTF from 500,000 gpd to 850,000 gpd as well as upgrades to existing WWTF components.

Start Date: July 2014

Finish Date: September 2015

Budget: $4,045,342