Long-awaited Wekiwa Springs septic-to-sewer conversion begins with ceremony

With a bulldozer parked behind them, state and local leaders Friday hailed the beginning of a massive sewer project estimated to cost $123 million but considered invaluable to the future health of the Wekiva River and its ecologically vital springs.

The earth-movers were props.

It will be weeks before the machines start chewing into the ground in and around Sweetwater West, a gated neighborhood east of Apopka. The aim is to lay sewer lines to take over the job of septic tanks blamed for leaking contaminating nitrates into the springs.

“The upcoming construction will be messy and inconvenient,” said Commissioner Christine Moore, who applauded residents in neighborhoods who agreed to the conversion at personal expense to help the springs. “But in about a year and a half, it’ll be behind us; we’ll have our home values protected and we’re going to have done our part to save this beautiful spring.”