More than 1,000 PCB residents to have access to reclaimed water thanks to recent project

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Mayor Mark Sheldon said Thursday marked another "great day" for the Beach.

Local officials and members of the Northwest Florida Water Management District celebrated the completion of the Panama City Beach Parkway Reuse Transmission System during a press conference at City Hall.

Completed last month, the system will provide reclaimed water to more than 200 existing connections, 1,500 new connections and up to 400,000 gallons of water per day to the Publix Sports Park off Chip Seal Parkway.

"It's a home run for the community," Sheldon said. "We constantly talk about here at City Hall how we can continue to improve our water for our residents, and how we can improve our water for our businesses and tourists alike."

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According to a press release from the Beach, the system's construction featured the installation of about 7,350 linear feet of 20-inch PVC pipes along Panama City Beach Parkway (Back Beach Road) from North Glades Trail to Chip Seal Parkway.

Panama City Beach contributed more than $1.262 million for the project. The Northwest Florida Water Management District worked with the Department or Environmental Protection to provide an additional $544,900 in grant funding from Florida's Alternative Water Supply grant program.

"The use of reclaimed water allows for residents and businesses, and even sports complexes, to continue to water their lawns while reducing the withdrawals of potable, or drinking, water," George Roberts, chairman of the district's governing board, said in the release.

For Sheldon, the new reuse transmission system is another example of the great partnership between the state, the district and PCB. He noted the groups also are working on a separate project to eliminate septic tanks in other local areas.

"The nearly complete Beach Drive utilities improvement project includes additional sewer service to areas south of Grand Lagoon and north of Beach drive, thanks to a grant from the Northwest Florida Water Management District," Sheldon said in the release. "An upcoming septic tank elimination program planned for a portion of the Laguna Beach area (also) received a $3 million grant from the state.

"(These partnerships are) sincere in conserving and protecting our area's priceless water resources."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City Beach Parkway Reuse Transmission System completed