Brevard County advances 10 MGD treatment facilities, sunsets Barefoot Bay utility district

Brevard County advances 10 MGD treatment facilities, sunsets Barefoot Bay utility districtThe Florida county has set a 2029 end date for the independent Barefoot Bay special district, moving to absorb its operations while securing land for major new water and wastewater infrastructure.

Commissioners approved an ordinance to dissolve the Barefoot Bay Water & Sewer District by December 31, 2029, assuming its remaining debt and assets.

The board authorized a land and easement purchase from Wheeler Farms, Inc. to provide heavy-truck access for planned 10 MGD water and wastewater treatment plants.

Barefoot Bay residents raised concerns over a 49% rate increase over four years, which was implemented to fund compliance, maintenance, and the upcoming facility replacement.

Brevard County, Florida, is moving forward with a major utility consolidation and infrastructure replacement program, officially setting a timeline to dissolve the Barefoot Bay Water & Sewer District while securing the footprint for new large-scale treatment facilities. During a July 21 meeting, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance to sunset the independent Barefoot Bay special district by December 31, 2029. The county's Utility Services Department already manages the district's operations, but the dissolution will formally transfer all property, debt, and contractual obligations to the county. The sunsetting aligns with the county's plan to replace the district's aging infrastructure. To facilitate this, the board approved a contract to purchase a fee simple parcel and utility easements from Wheeler Farms, Inc. near Palm Bay. The acquisition will provide a dedicated access road to support the construction and long-term operation of the new plants. A utility staff member confirmed during the meeting that the ultimate buildout at the new site will include a 10 million gallon per day (MGD) wastewater treatment plant and a 10 MGD water treatment plant. The new access route off Meco Road was deemed critical, as the existing dirt road access cannot accommodate the 50-foot delivery trucks and heavy construction equipment required for facilities of this scale. The county also plans to relocate the district's billing office to the new site. The transition has caused friction among existing Barefoot Bay ratepayers. During the public hearing, residents detailed how their water and sewer rates have increased by 49% over the past four years. While the rate hikes were implemented to bring the 50-year-old facility into statutory compliance and help fund the new centralized plant, residents expressed frustration that they are currently shouldering the financial burden of a dedicated special district rather than sharing costs across the county's broader ratepayer base. Although residents pleaded for an immediate dissolution of the district to lower their monthly bills, county officials maintained that the 2029 timeline aligns with the payoff of the district's existing bonds and the transition timeline for the new 10 MGD facilities.