Florida Water Geek

  Looking at Water from a Century Ago to the Next 100 Years Last week I attended a seminar by the Young Professionals of the American Water Works Association , Florida Section-- A Century of Water: Lessons from the Past, Vision for the Next 100 Years . The sessions were not only interesting, but thought provoking, so I wanted to recap and share some of the main points I believe are important. 100 Years of Hialeah and the Future of Water Virginia Walsh, P.G., Ph.D., Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department The presentation started with a history the Hialeah Water Treatment Plant that was placed in service in 1924 and the wells that were permitted to supply the water. This water plant is still active and looks as beautiful today.  From there, Ms. Walsh reviewed the various permits and modifications for the Hialeah water system over the years.  Permits for water treatment systems are based on a number of factors, which include water sources , treatment methods , water usage an...

  Important Information About Your Drinking Water Sarasota County Water Quality Report Notice Every community water system is required to provide annual Water Quality Reports (also called Consumer Confidence Reports) to all customers by July 1 each year.  These reports may be mailed, or a link to the report may be included on your bill and/or in a local newspaper. Most water utilities also have an easy-to-find link to the report on their website. If you cannot find your report, contact the utility department and request a copy.  You may also be able to find a copy on EPA's Consumer Confidence Report website , or you can call EPA's SAFE WATER HOTLINE at 1-800-426-4791. What Does Your Water Quality Report Tell You? Your Water Quality Report first gives you basic information about your drinking water: The source of your drinking water (which aquifer, river, lake, etc.) and treatment methods A summary of Florida DEP's assessment of any potential contamination of the so...

Have you ever wondered . . .  Where your drinking water comes from? How it gets treated?  How it's delivered to your faucet?   Your Water Utility Water Tower at Fantasy of Flight, Polk City Photo by Donna Kaluzniak In Florida, about 88% of people get their drinking water (also called potable water) from a utility.  The rest of the population have their own private wells. Some utilities provide more than just water. They may also include electric, gas, or sanitation.  Public water systems (PWS) --are water utilities that are owned by a local government or agency. They serve about 93% of Florida's population. Sometimes the water utility is part of a city or county public works department.  Florida has nearly 5,000 public water systems, but only about one-third (1,585) are community water systems that provide drinking water to homes year-round. The remaining two-thirds serve businesses, schools, campgrounds, factories, and other nonresidential facilities. Priv...

  How is Your Drinking Water Treated to Ensure Safety? Source water (sometimes called "raw" water) is pumped through pipelines to a  Water Treatment Plant (WTP) , where it goes through processes to remove contaminants.  Many utilities have more than one WTP. There are often multiple wells, reservoirs, or other sources. Having multiple facilities provides redundancy, which is especially important in case of emergencies or natural disasters. The WTPs are usually located as close to the source as possible, which reduces the cost for pipeline construction and pumping.  The type of treatment needed to provide safe drinking water depends upon the quality of the source water.  For instance, in northeast Florida, most of the water comes from a confined portion of Floridan Aquifer  (a confined aquifer) 500 to 1200 feet below the earth's surface. A confined aquifer is one that is covered by a rock, clay, or sediment layer that slows down or prevents groundwater ...

  The Water Distribution System Once the water has been treated to meet all federal, state, and local regulations for drinking water, it is pumped into  storage tanks . Storage allows for fluctuations in water usage and holds enough water for emergencies and fire protection. Some of these are  ground storage tanks  and others may be  elevated tanks  (water towers). Elevated tanks not only store water, but help to regulate pressure in the system.  Pumps  then send drinking water into the  water distribution system . Pumps provide pressure in the system, usually around 60 to 75 pounds per square inch (psi), allowing water to flow into buildings throughout the community.  Note that in Florida, a measurable disinfectant (chlorine or chloramine) must be added to the water just before entering the distribution system. A minimum chlorine residual of 0.2 parts per million or milligrams per liter (mg/L) must be maintained throughout the system - ...