Volusia County Partners with Oak Hill to Improve Water Quality in the Mosquito Lagoon

Posted On: March 7, 2024

The Volusia County Council unanimously approved a new agreement with the City of Oak Hill for the operation of a recently completed sanitary sewer collection system in Indian Harbor Estates during the March 5 meeting. The project will reduce nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants flowing into the Mosquito Lagoon by providing approximately 280 homeowners with centralized wastewater collection service. This addition will improve the recreational experience for residents and visitors and yield a cleaner waterway for the environment and marine life.

The Indian Harbor Estates community was identified by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) as a high-priority area for the conversion of aging septic systems due to their proximity to canals leading directly into the Mosquito Lagoon. Planning and design were initiated in 2019 through the cooperative efforts of Volusia County, Oak Hill, and the Indian River Lagoon Council. Through a combination of grants and loans provided by the St. Johns River Water Management District and the FDEP, Oak Hill was able to move forward with construction for the project.

During the meeting, Oak Hill Mayor Douglas Gibson expressed his gratitude to the County Council for its support of this project, stating, “This could not have been implemented, could not have been completed, without y’all’s help.” He also complimented the work of Volusia County’s Public Works Department, as well as Council Member Danny Robins, from District 3, for his support: “I call out Council Member Danny Robins, from our district, for his undoubted belief that we can save the lagoon, but we have to start. Oak Hill and its citizens want to thank each and every one of you for what you all have done.”

With construction now complete, property owners are in the process of connecting to the new infrastructure. Volusia County is the water provider for the City of Oak Hill and will oversee the operation and maintenance of the community’s wastewater system. Following the meeting, Volusia County Water Resources & Utilities Director Michael Ulrich remarked, “Our state’s waterways and springs are a shared resource and therefore a shared responsibility.” He credited the City of Oak Hill for its ability to maximize all available local and state resources to make this water quality improvement project a reality.