Draft permit for Class I injection well operation at Three Oaks Water Reclamation Facility.

State of Florida
Department of Environmental Protection

Notice of Draft Permit

The Department of Environmental Protection hereby provides notice that it has prepared a draft permit for the proposed project as detailed in the application, subject to the conditions specified in the draft permit and summarized below. The applicant, Lee County Board of County Commissioners, Talya Bickle, P.E., Interim Utility Director, 1500 Monroe Street, Fort Myers, Florida 33901 applied on Mar 9, 2026, for a Class I injection well operation permit. The project is located at Three Oaks Water Reclamation Facility, 18521 Three Oaks Parkway, Fort Myers, Florida 33967, in Lee County (File 0330573-004-UO/1X, WACS ID 94248).
The permittee will operate one non-hazardous Class I injection well (IW-1) and associated monitor well (DZMW-1) for the disposal of secondary treated domestic effluent from the Three Oaks Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) and, backup disposal of reverse osmosis concentrate membrane softening concentrate and membrane softening concentrate from the Pinewoods Water Treatment Plant (WTP). The maximum injection rate for IW-1 shall be 5,139 gallons per minute and the maximum injection volume for IW-1 shall be 7.4 million gallons per day. The injection well is constructed with a 20-inch diameter casing set to 2,100 feet below land surface (bls), a 16-inch diameter fiberglass reinforced plastic tubing set to 2,100 feet bls with a fluid-filled annulus, and total depth of 3,015 feet bls. The injection zone is classified as Aquifer Classification G-IV as defined in Rule 62-520.410 F.A.C. The dual-zone monitor well is completed in the Upper Floridan aquifer from 1,150 to 1,204 feet bls and from 1,455 to 1,535 feet bls.
The Department has permitting jurisdiction under Chapter 403 of the Florida Statutes and the rules adopted thereunder. The project is not exempt from permitting procedures. The Department has determined that an Underground Injection Control permit is required for the proposed work.
Any interested person may submit written comments on the draft permit and may request a public meeting within 30 days after publication of this public notice. A request for a public meeting shall be submitted in writing and shall state the nature of the issues proposed to be raised in the meeting. If a public meeting is later scheduled, there will be another 30-day notice period for that meeting. Written comments or a public meeting request shall be submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection, Aquifer Protection Program, 2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 3530, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400, which is the office processing this permit application. All comments received within the 30-day period will be considered in formulation of the Department's final decision regarding permit issuance.
The files associated with this order are available for public inspection during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except state holidays, at the Department of Environmental Protection, South District, and at the Department of Environmental Protection, Aquifer Protection Program office in Tallahassee. Any additional information concerning this project may be obtained by contacting James Dodson, Professional Geologist II, at 850-245-8653.
3/24/2026   12182122