Cost of Advanced Wastewater Treatment on Marco

On October 7, 2022, the City of Marco Island issued a Request for Information (RFI) related to the best value technology methods to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus in the Marco Island Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) reuse water. 

A responsefrom a firm called Phosphorus Free Water Solutions (NuQuatics)estimated the cost to remove 99% of the nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorus, from the reuse water to be $5,000,000. This project adds a “polishing” or “finishing” step to the existing sewage treatment process that exceeds the AWT standards established by the state of Florida.  

No disruption to the existing sewage treatment process. The equipment is compact, fitting into two cargo containers and will easily fit into the space available. The cost may be as low as $2,000,000. 

This equipment will reduce the cost of chlorine, saving over $150,000 per year. Deep well injection of excess reuse water will no longer be required saving additional operating costs. This is a cost reduction project. A grant from FDEP might cover 50% or even 100% of the cost. A lease option is available as well, making this a very low risk proposition. 

NuQuatics was selected as the water treatment contractor by the state of Florida to respond to the Piney Point state of emergency resulting from a gypsum stack containment breach. NuQuatics mobilized and within 17 days designed and constructed commercial operations of an advanced water treatment (AWT) process to remove toxic concentrations of ammonia and phosphorus from the site. An environmental catastrophe was averted. 

NuQuatics can work with the customer’s desired engineering teams, Jacob’s Engineering in the case of Marco Island, who may hold certain beneficial site insights and experience. A “shovel ready” project.