Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/313059
Building aboveground — elevating the struc- tures to a point higher than expected storm surges would flow — eliminates that problem. The city's primary wastewater treatment cen- ter on 12th Street is protected from a Category 3 hurricane surge, as is the biggest facility that will be serviced by LS 87 — Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Garland suggested taking the station high enough so it also could with- stand a Category 3 storm. "Atkins agreed to taking it to Category 3 pro- tection as well," said Garland. In the coming weeks, the Utilities Department will hold public meetings to help determine the overall appearance of the 6,000-square-foot building in the park that will house the lift station. One of the "silos" will be retained to serve as an underground tank for diesel fuel to supply back-up generators to keep the pumps work- ing in the event of an electrical outage. The deepest silo will be the "influent struc- ture," more commonly known as the "wet well," where sewage under the pull of gravity will move to the lowest location in the sys- tem. From there it will be pumped ("lifted") to a higher level to continue its flow to the 12th Street facility. Unfortunately, the AECOM- designed wet well is too shallow; it needs to be 12 feet deeper at its floor (meaning the actual hole must go 14 or more feet lower to make room for a new floor). Garland earlier proposed a new wet well, instead of trying to retrofit the old one, and he appears increasingly to favor that solu- tion. Tidwell on Monday said city staff would look at costs, but he, too, thought a new wet Materials for the lift station project remain in Luke Wood Park. Photo by Norman Schimmel Sarasota News Leader May 16, 2014 Page 53