The South Florida Water Management District, in conjunction with the U.S. Army corps of Engineers, have undertaken the Headwaters Revitalization Project. This project will revitalize the Upper Kissimmee Basin by modifying the flows to the Kissimmee River to be more characteristic of historical discharge regimes. The new regime will permit lake levels to fluctuate over a wider range as a function of rainfall and local inflows. One of the subdivisions impacted by higher lake levels is Hatchineha Estates located on the west side of Lake Hatchineha. An impact evaluation report identified sixty-one existing septic tanks in the subdivision that will be impacted by high water levels. The construction of a wastewater collection system in Hatchineha Estates was recommended to avoid impacting the septic tank drainfields.

Barnes, Ferland and Associates, Inc. completed a preliminary engineering report for the Hatchineha Estates Wastewater Collection System that evaluated several alternatives and recommended the most feasible system. The alternatives considered included a conventional gravity system, a modified conventional gravity system (shallower than the conventional system), a low pressure system and a STEP system. Based on costs and other factors, the conventional gravity system was recommended for construction.

Barnes, Ferland and Associates, Inc. completed the final design, permitting and construction management of the conventional gravity system. The collection system includes over 3 miles of gravity pipe with 330 connections and five lift stations. The wastewater transmission system consists of a master lift station and over 4 miles of 6” force main.