Overview
Unicorporated Monroe County Project is a projected wastewater treatment plant in Cudjoe Key, Florida, serving approximately 19,360 people. It is located within 50 km of the coast in the Florida Keys.
Unicorporated Monroe County Project is a planned wastewater treatment facility located in Cudjoe Key, Monroe County, Florida. The plant is designed to serve a population of approximately 19,360 residents in the Florida Keys region, addressing the wastewater needs of this island community. As a projected facility, specific treatment processes and capacity details are not yet finalized. However, plants of this scale in Florida typically operate under the U.S. Clean Water Act, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The designed capacity is 1.00 million gallons per day, indicating a medium-scale facility. The plant will discharge treated wastewater into the surrounding marine environment of the Florida Keys, which is part of the larger Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. The area supports diverse aquatic life, including coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests, making proper wastewater treatment critical for protecting water quality and marine habitats.
Environmental context
The plant is situated in the Florida Keys, a chain of islands bordering the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Treated effluent will likely discharge into nearshore waters that are part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, an ecologically sensitive area supporting coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and diverse marine species. The region's shallow waters and slow flushing rates make it vulnerable to nutrient pollution, emphasizing the need for advanced treatment to protect downstream ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Cudjoe Key, Monroe County, Florida, in the United States. It serves the Florida Keys region.
The plant is designed to serve approximately 19,360 residents in the Cudjoe Key area and surrounding communities.
As a projected coastal plant, it will likely discharge treated effluent into nearshore waters of the Florida Keys, subject to NPDES permit requirements under the Clean Water Act.
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, with NPDES permits issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. These permits set limits on pollutants to protect water quality.
Plants of this scale in Florida typically employ secondary treatment or higher, often including nutrient removal to protect sensitive coastal ecosystems like the Florida Keys.
Nearby plants