In the midst of ongoing debate about large-scale , statewide answers to the problems that plague the health of the St . Lucie River and the Indian River Lagoon , City leaders have been working to find local solutions . The City of Port St . Lucie broke ground in late 2017 on the St . Lucie River / C-23 Extension Water Quality Project — which , when complete , will keep up to 21 percent of nutrient-laden excess freshwater discharges out of the C-23 Canal from entering the North Fork of the St . Lucie River .
The Water Quality Project is the precursor to this City ’ s future alternative water supply . A proposed future cyclic surface water treatment plant will be built on the City ’ s adjoining McCarty Ranch Preserve property to treat the water being pumped from the C-23 Canal to drinking water standards . A certain amount of this treated water will be distributed for public consumption demands and the rest will be stored in on-site deep aquifer storage and recovery wells ( ASRs ). The stored water will then be recovered and distributed for consumption during dry season when water from the C-23 Canal is not available , ensuring Port St . Lucie is able to meet the water needs of this growing city for generations to come .
Water Quality Initiatives | City of Port St . Lucie 13