Providing a reliable and affordable sewer solution to promote the public health, safety,
and welfare of the Killearn Lakes Plantation residents and environment.

ABOUT THE PROJECT
 

Project History

 

In the middle to late 1970's, Killearn Lakes Units I & II were developed and homes began to be constructed in those subdivisions. Almost immediately, problems were realized with the proper function and operation of the septic tanks serving the homes in Unit I.  This problem increased in severity and in March of 1987 the Board of County Commissioners declared a temporary moratorium on the construction of homes using septic tanks in Unit I. The Board then mandated a study (The Killearn Lakes Wastewater Disposal Study) be prepared in order to analyze the specific problem and to identify realistic solutions.  In July of 1987, the Board determined that an extended moratorium would not be appropriate due to legal issues. Instead, the Board directed that future homes being built in the area should be evaluated on a case by case basis using criteria developed in the study.

 

The study required that new home development should not adversely impact existing homes and improvements.  For a number of years, these criteria severely limited new home construction.  However, in recent years, developers found that engineers could provide drainage designs that would route storm water offsite and away from existing developments, theoretically complying with the requirements of the study.  As a result, home construction resumed in units I and II.

 

Over the years, the residents of Killearn Lakes Units I and II have experienced periods in which their septic systems have worked acceptably (times of drought), and periods in which their septic systems have failed to function (rainy periods).  The problems have been reported many times by the local media, and the residents have appealed for assistance.

 

In August of 2003, residents of the Killearn Lakes community again asked Leon County Commissioners to resolve the septic-tank problems in their neighborhood. As a result, Leon County imposed a moratorium in July of 2004 that prohibited new development for a period of two years. During those two years, the county was able to evaluate the situation in order to develop a reliable and cost effective solution. The commissioners unanimously approved the development of a plan and solution, using $5 million in tax dollars from the Blueprint 2000 program to resolve the sewer problem.

 

In November of 2004, engineering consultants researched the sewage problem in the Killearn community and identified several possible solutions. After extensively studying the gravity, vacuum, and low-pressure sewer systems, it was concluded that all three alternatives were possible; however, a low-pressure sewer system provided the most cost-effective and timely solution with the least amount of disruption to the existing utilities and residents of the community.

 

After the design of the low-pressure system was completed, it took construction crews, under the direction of Leon County Public Works and engineers at PBS&J, nearly a year to completely install the Killearn Lakes Sanitary Sewer System. The system is now in public use with service being provided by the City of Tallahassee.


Click here to download the Killearn Lakes Sanitary Sewer Project Report in PDF format.