Volusia County Septic to Sewer program - Gemini Springs BMAP PFA

BACKGROUND

In 2016, the Florida Legislature passed the Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act, mandating the protection and restoration of polluted Florida Springs, which includes Gemini Springs in DeBary, Florida.  The State of Florida established Primary Focus Areas (PFAs); residents within these areas are required to replace their current septic tank with an Advanced Treatment Septic System or join a central sewer system within the next 5-20 years.  

Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) tested Gemini Springs and determined that 86% of the contaminates were nitrates.  Further, they determined that 40% of the nitrate contamination was linked to septic tanks.   FDEP has designated a Primary Focus Area (PFA) which includes all properties south of Highbanks Road in DeBary.

A workshop was held on January 27th, 2021 for DeBary City Council with Volusia County Water Utilities and the Department of Environmental Protection, which outlined the County’s initial remediation plan to reduce the nutrient load coming from septic systems.  A video of this workshop is located on our website at this link and provides important details of this project.  We recommend you watch this informative video.

The PowerPoint  presented during that meeting can be found at this link. 

Because the City has taken action, the address that are listed as being in the primary focus area will be able to replace their traditional systems as needed until they are transitioned.   As stated in question 7 of the FAQs:  Homes in the primary focus area may replace their current system with a conventional system should their system fail during the conversion period. This is why the City included the BMAP area rather than the State suggestion of one section. By including the entire BMAP section in the primary focus area, all homeowners are protected during the 20 year process from having to install the expensive advanced systems.

STAY UP TO DATE  - SIGN UP FOR THE SEPTIC TO SEWER LISTSERV AT THIS LINK.  Enter your email and select Septic to Sewer Information.

REPORTS:

Department of Environmental Protection's methods for assessing nutrient pollution is explained in their 2017 report for DeLeon and Gemini Springs at this link. 

 Residents can read more about the Basin Management Action Plan and Primary Focus Area for Gemini Springs at this link.

Click here to see water and sewer costs for West Volusia

CHECK TO SEE IF YOU ARE IN THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREA

Map of the Primary Focus Area

Residents can check their address at  this link   *We have attempted to be as comprehensive as possible, but there may be some additions/deletions to the list as the program progresses.  We will personally notify impacted property owners via US mail.  ** Not all homes on a street may be within the Primary Focus Area.  If you do not see your house number listed but see other house numbers listed, it is likely you are not included.  You can email sewer@debary.org to confirm.   We will not know when a particular street will be converted when the project begins in approximately 2025. 

MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS:

January 27, 2021 Workshop

Volusia County Water Utilities and the Department of Environmental Protection outlined the County’s initial remediation plan to reduce the nutrient load coming from septic systems.  A video of this workshop is located on our website at this link and provides important information about the program.

The PowerPoint presented at the meeting can be found at this link. 

February 24, 2021 Workshops

Residents who live within the Primary Focus Area were invited to a workshop on February 24th where they were able to meet with and ask questions of Volusia County Utilities and Florida Department of Environmental Protection.  You can watch the video from these sessions at these links.  Session 1     Session 2  (*Note, audio is clearer on Session 2)

We understand that residents have many questions.  This project is in the pre-planning stages and we are involving our residents in this process. While we are developing a plan, there are no specific costs or steps known.  Once the plan is developed, with resident input, we will be able to provide more specifics as to the process and costs.  

July 14, 2021 Workshop

Volusia County presented its planned approach to DeBary City Council on July 14, 2021 .   The presentation can be viewed at this link.  During this session, the County presented its plan based on feedback it received from residents at the February 24th program.  The plan presented represents hook up to sewer only, and not County water.  This was done as result of less than 50% of residents who responded to the survey wanted water hook up, the lack of availability of grants for residential hook ups to centralized water, and the disruption to streets and roads.   The County will submit its feasibility analysis report to DEP in 2021. 

August 18, 2021 Council Meeting

Volusia County is presented the feasibility study to DeBary City Council on August 18, 2021.   A link to the feasibility study may be found at this link.

2023

In June 2023, Volusia County indicated that the engineering process is set to begin.  That will take approximately two years to complete.  Once that is completed, we will update this page and everyone signed up on the email list as we receive information. 

FAQs

Click here for answers to the most frequently asked questions concerning this program. 

For information on DeBary's fertilizer ordinance, please click here .