A multi-step process was used to identify possible locations for the proposed Coquina Coast desalination plant as well as intake and discharge facilities. The process included workshops, a public meeting, online survey, computer-based screening and other evaluations.
Defining Evaluation Criteria Attributes
An important part of the siting process was defining project attributes for the project evaluation criteria that was established in Phase 1: community values, environmental stewardship, project reliability, permittability, risk, and comparative cost.
From a public workshop on Dec. 8, 2010, approximately 35 specific attributes were identified for the siting criteria.
Identifying Suitable Areas
Using the applicable evaluation criteria attributes, a computer-based screening process was used to identify large areas that may be suitable for the desalination facility. The computer-based screening process also identified unsuitable areas, such as highly populated regions, national parks and forests, national fish hatcheries and large wetland areas.
Seventeen large areas were identified within St. Johns, Flagler and Volusia counties. Using nine different scenarios for weighting the selection criteria, including four scenarios developed solely from public input, the large areas were screened to identify 14 highest ranked sub-areas for further consideration. These 14 sub-areas, shown in the graphic below, range from 200-400 acres in size, and were the highest ranked regardless of the weighting scenario used.
Next Steps for Siting
The 14 selected sub-areas will be further evaluated in the next phase of the project to identify a list of 25-50 acre sites for final consideration. The shortlisted site sub-areas were identified and selected based on meeting the siting criteria. They were scored based in part on their ability to suit an open ocean intake, should that be the chosen method for getting seawater to the plant site. Should beach wells be the preferred intake option for the plant, the siting process may be revisited to identify areas in closer proximity to potential well sites in order to reduce costs.
The next phase of the project has been rescheduled to start in approximately 2014 or later.
|