FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:   Patty DiPiero, Lee County Utilities
                      (239) 479-8534

CORKSCREW WATER TREATMENT PLANT IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY

FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 6, 2004) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners today conducted an 11:30 a.m. groundbreaking ceremony for the Corkscrew Water Treatment Plant Improvements Project.

The ceremony was at the plant, 16101 Alico Road (near the Alico & Corkscrew Rd intersection ). Lee County Commissioner John E. Albion served as master of ceremonies. He was joined by the construction contractors and the Department of Utilities staff. The project will increase the plant's daily water production from 10 to 15 million gallons and cost $11 million.

For more background information, see below:

In 1979, the Lee County Board of County Commissioners anticipated the future needs of our public water supply by purchasing over 475 acres of land to construct a water treatment facility and a well field that would serve central Lee County. This forethought led to the building of the Corkscrew Water Treatment Plant that was constructed in 1981 as a 5 million gallon per day plant. The plant was eventually expanded to produce 10 million gallons per day in 1985.

Back in 1981, when the plant went into operation, Lee County had 205,000 residents. Today, Lee County's population is over 500,000 residents.

Due to the ever growing population, Lee County Utilities identified the need to increase the capacity of the Corkscrew Water Treatment Plant from its current rated capacity of 10 million gallons per day to 15 million gallons per day. The Corkscrew plant provides a reliable source of clean drinking water in a cost efficient manner to citizens in Lee County. The plant treats wellwater using a lime softening process followed by deep sand filtration in order to produce a high quality drinking water.

This project involved complex engineering design and state agency permitting. The construction process will be demanding since this plant must continue to operate at its full capacity while the new equipment is being installed.

This construction project will cost $11 million dollars and will be completed by April 2005. This expansion project is an important part of Lee County Utilities 5 year, $130 million dollar Capital Improvement Program. The Capital Improvement Program ensures that expansion of the county's utility system is closely coordinated with the Growth Management Plan in order to meet the needs of our community.