Bonita Springs Utilities buys Fountain Lakes sewer plant

BUYER: Bonita Springs Utilities Inc., Bonita Springs

SELLER: Aqua Utilities Florida Inc.

PROPERTY: A portion of the west side of U.S. 41, Estero also known as a portion of SEC 4-47S-25E

PRICE: $1.82 million

LAW FIRM ON DEED: Nabor Giblin & Nickerson PA, Tallahassee

PLANS, DESCRIPTION: Bonita Springs Utilities Inc. (BSU) purchased the wastewater-treatment system that serves the Fountain Lakes and Marsh Landing communities in Estero for $2.5 million. The utility paid $1.82 million for the associated real estate.

BSU will operate the communities' existing 25-year-old wastewater-treatment plant for the next 18 to 24 months, while it works to tie the communities into BSU's central sewer system. Once the tie-in is complete, the Fountain Lakes facility will be demolished and the land will be returned to the homeowners' association.

“Residents approached BSU after the old facility created ongoing problems and was fined repeatedly for environmental and operational violations,” BSU Executive Director Fred Partin says in a press release. “BSU will provide residents with improved, consistent service, and destroying the old plant will protect Halfway Creek, Estero Bay and the surrounding environment.”

BSU will pay for the purchase, connection and repairs through a one-time special service charge to the associated residences.

Started in 1971 as a nonprofit water utility, BSU expanded into the sewer/wastewater business. It has since taken over the service of 40 package plants and more than 4,000 septic tanks. The utility provides services to more than 40,000 homes and businesses in a 60-square-mile area.