Smelly, brown water will be a thing of the past after Indiantown OKs $8 million for water plant

Treasure Coast Newspapers

The village of Indiantown is planning to purchase the water treatment and wastewater plants of the private utility, Indiantown Company. The utility, on Southwest Farm Road, may be in compliance today, but is facing millions of dollars of repairs to bring it up to speed for the near future.

INDIANTOWN — After months of waiting, Indiantown’s water will be in the hands of its taxpayers, but they won’t see crystal-clear drinking water anytime soon.

The Village Council voted unanimously Thursday to spend about $8 million to buy a private water-treatment and wastewater plant. It will use a $6 million federal grant and $2.1 million loan.

While the decades-old plant's water meets government water-quality standards, it's still been the source of complaints over the smell and brownish color of the water.

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Maintenance of the facility has been ignored for years, according to an appraisal of the property for the village.

“Residents have had bad water for a while,” said Village spokesperson Daniel Eick. “This is a big victory for the community.”

The Village Council has been planning the purchase of the water-treatment and wastewater plant since last year. The federal money allows the village to purchase the plant, currently owned by Indiantown Company.

"We were fortunate because of... our demographics and being a rural community," which helped secure the funding, said Village Manager Harold Brown.

The village of Indiantown is planning to purchase the water treatment and wastewater plants of the private utility, Indiantown Company. The water treatment facility, off of Railroad Avenue and Southwest Farm Road, has had deferred maintenance for years under current ownership, but is up to code.

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There are still years of work for the village ahead, according to Gerald Hartman, a consultant for the village involved in securing the funding for purchase of the plant. The entire process, he said, is expected to take up to three years.

“It’s a first big step, but it’s going to take a couple of years,” said Hartman. "That’s when the major water improvements will occur."

The vote was the first step of a long process. The next phase will involve obtaining funding for maintenance and improvements to the plant, according to Public Works Director William Achebelle.

"You're not going to see your water change overnight," said Mayor Janet Hernández during the Village Council meeting. "This is the best news the residents of Indiantown can have, but please be patient because patience is key."