Leesburg to provide sewer services to The Villages

LEESBURG – The city has agreed to spend nearly $8 million to connect with The Villages wastewater and water reuse infrastructure. The treated wastewater, or reuse, is used for irrigation.

The move is yet another step in selling about 1,900 acres to the retirement community at County Road 470 and Florida’s Turnpike. The site was formerly used for the city’s wastewater treatment spray field.

The Villages plan to build 4,500 homes along with commercial and retail space.

The land deal has a lot of requirements before it can be finalized by August for $12 million. One requirement is improving the city’s wastewater treatment connections so it can handle the demands of its new customers.

City Manager Al Minner told city commissioners Monday that the infrastructure needs to be in place as quickly as possible for the rapidly growing development. By moving quickly and joining forces with The Villages’ engineers and contractors, the city will save up to $2 million on the project. The Villages is building rapidly from Wildwood to the Turnpike on the Sumter County side of the Turnpike.

Leesburg has the money in reserves to make the improvements. It will eventually receive $9 million in fees from The Villages and will gain new revenue once the development is built.