[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 96 (Wednesday, June 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1548-E1549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 24, 2009

  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, I submit the 
following:
  Requesting Member: Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)
  Bill Number: H.R.
  Account: STAG Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Project
  Name of Requesting Entity: City of Homestead
  Address of Requesting Entity: 790 N. Homestead, FL, 33030
  Description of Request: I have secured $500,000 for the City of 
Homestead Water Utility Upgrades. This funding will be used for

[[Page E1549]]

the installation of telemetry systems that will: (1) allow the City to 
substantially decrease the carbon footprint associated with driving to 
check each pump station on a daily basis, (2) free personnel to respond 
to emergencies and result in the reduction of response time to 
emergencies at remote sites, as a result of a disaster, and (3) result 
in improved efficiencies in man-power, and usage of natural resources, 
significantly increasing reliability and diminishing sewage back up 
occurrences. This project is identified in the master plan which was 
created on the City's behalf in 2003 and updated in 2006, and will 
produce approximately 10 new jobs in the local economy. The City of 
Homestead owns and operates a wastewater treatment and sanitary sewer 
system, which encompasses over 89 miles of sewer lines of various sizes 
with a total of 50 pump stations. The plant is responsible for 
treatment of more than 1.63 billion gallons annually and currently 
serves over 9,200 customers, some of which are located outside the City 
limits. Now over 50 years old, Homestead's current infrastructure lacks 
the capacity and the ability to treat the increased wastewater demand 
as a result of the unprecedented population growth experienced in the 
last several years. Accordingly, the City has undertaken a multi-phase 
expansion of its Wastewater Treatment Plant and associated 
infrastructure. As part of this expansion and renovation, Homestead is 
requesting federal funding for the procurement and installation of 
water and wastewater telemetry equipment, which will provide real-time 
information on performance, demands on the system and water 
withdrawals. These upgrades are crucial to allowing the staff to 
coordinate efforts and manage water usage, more efficiently using water 
from the aquifer and minimizing water losses, thereby conserving the 
natural resources of the Biscayne Aquifer. The projected cost for this 
system is $1,538,461 and will provide constant monitoring and control 
of 64 wastewater pump stations, 3 elevated water tanks, and 6 raw water 
well pumps. To date, the City has procured several studies and master 
plans addressing the needs of the wastewater system and has spent over 
$200,000 to pre-design and identify crucial projects necessary to 
maintain the level of service to the growing community.

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