Venice Gardens Water Reclamation Facility

The Venice Gardens Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) is located at 375 Venice East Blvd. and has a permitted treatment capacity of 3 million gallons per day and serves the unincorporated areas of south Sarasota County. 

Wastewater is pumped to the treatment plant through a network of underground pipes and lift stations. At the plant, the wastewater is screened to remove inorganic material. After screening, the wastewater goes through a biological process followed by filtration and disinfection of the reclaimed water. The reclaimed water is stored in a 3-million-gallon tank and distributed to golf course and residential reuse customer ponds. Excess reclaimed water produced during wet weather is disposed of in a deep injection well.

The Venice Gardens WRF is staffed 16 hours per day, seven days per week by State of Florida licensed treatment plant operators. The plant is permitted by the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection, permit FLA043494.

Wastewater treatment processes produce reclaimed water and biosolids

Reclaimed water is stored in reclaimed water storage tank and ponds and is used for irrigation throughout the county on golf courses, right of ways and residential lawns. The treated reclaimed water is pumped to customer irrigation systems and ponds through a network of underground pipes. Reclaimed water pipes can be identified by their lavender or purple color. Reclaimed water is safe for watering grass and landscaping and reduces the demand for potable water.

       Benefits of reclaimed water include:

• The reduction of the demand on water supplies used for drinking water.
• Enhancement of landscaping through irrigation.
• Reduction of saltwater intrusion.
• Reduced potable water bills.

Biosolids (solid waste remaining after treatment) produced at the treatment plants are dewatered using a centrifuge, a machine that spins and separates solids from liquids. The water removed in the dewatering process is returned to the first stage of the treatment plant for processing. The dewatered biosolids are transported to a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) approved composting facility.

The Venice Gardens WRF will be upgraded to an advanced wastewater treatment (AWT) facility and is currently in the design process.