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With the Oleta River as the backdrop, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Commissioner Sally Heyman and Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) Director Roy Coley joined area property owners to break ground on the newest Connect 2 Protect septic-to-sewer conversion project for the Ojus Sanitary Sewer Expansion Project.
The Ojus Sanitary Sewer Expansion area – bounded by NE 186-188 Streets to the north, the Florida East Coast Railroad to the east, the Oleta River to the west and NE 179 St to the south – is designated as an Urban Area District. Based on policy from the Comprehensive Development Master Plan (CDMP) and input from a community charette nearly 20 years ago, the Ojus community was identified as benefiting from mixed-use zoning allowing both residential and commercial development, which is enhanced through its proximity to multiple transit opportunities.
However, the missing link for this vision to be realized was the lack of county sewer infrastructure. Having that infrastructure in place allows for the Urban Area District to develop to its full potential, facilitating a more livable community through a mix of commercial and residential components that promote transit and walkability.
The partnership between the county and property owners demonstrates the community’s growing interest in expediting this adaptation. This project is one of the first to use the Special Benefit Area tool whereby a group of property owners voluntarily assess themselves the cost to establish and connect their properties to the sanitary sewer system.
The participating property owners in the Ojus Urban Area District will pay off this assessment through their property tax bills over a 30 year period. During the next year, the project includes the construction of a sewer main, laterals, a pump station and force main to serve an area that had no previous county wastewater infrastructure in place.
“Once this expansion project is finished, it will complete a community vision nearly two decades in the making,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Connect 2 Protect will help Miami-Dade residents and business owners by protecting their homes and businesses in the coming years. This is a significant step toward mitigating the effects of climate change on our county, and part of a more substantial effort to modernize and improve county services for all our residents. Today’s groundbreaking reemphasizes our ongoing commitment towards building a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient Miami-Dade for the future.”
Once Ojus is completed, 107 septic tank systems will be retired and adjacent properties will eventually be able to connect to county service and further decrease dependence on septic tank systems.
“Through the Connect 2 Protect project, we will be able to provide residents with reliable wastewater removal services, improving the quality of life in this community and safeguarding the environment,” said WASD Director Roy Coley. “We are building infrastructure that is vital for the economic growth and development of this area, and we look forward to helping make this community’s vision a reality.”
Approximately 120,000 properties in Miami-Dade County are served by septic tank systems. Due to sea level rise, 9,000 septic tank systems are currently vulnerable to compromise or failure under current groundwater conditions. This number is projected increase to approximately 13,500 by 2040. For more information about the Connect 2 Protect septic to sewer conversion, please visit WASD’s new program page at www.miamidade.gov/connect2protect.
It is the priority of the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department to provide safe, reliable service to its customers. For additional information about Department services and programs, visit the WASD website.
