City Manager's Bi-Weekly Report Vol 3 | Issue 9 | May 2019 | Page 27

DRINKING WATER WEEK: A TIME TO RECOGNIZE THIS PRECIOUS RESOURCE Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our water treatment professionals at the Prineville and James E. Anderson Plants, Port St. Lucie customers always have water when they turn on the tap. But for 1 in 9 people worldwide, that’s not the case. Millions do not have access to safe and clean drinking water. May 5 through May 11, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and its members celebrate Drinking Water Week. Water plays a vital role in our daily lives. You can survive for a few weeks without food, but only a few days without water. While some must journey miles to get it, some take it for granted and overuse it. Drinking Water Week is an opportunity for both water professionals and the communities they serve to join together in recognizing this precious resource. PROTECTING WATER AT ITS SOURCE There are over 73,000 connections to our vast water distribution system, which encompasses more that 1,200 miles of water main. When connections are properly installed and maintained, the risks of contamination are very minimal. However, unapproved and improper piping changes or connections can adversely affect not only the availability, but also the quality of the water. A cross connection may let polluted water or even chemicals mingle into the water supply system when not properly protected. This not only compromises the water quality, it can also affect your health. So, what can you do? Do not make or allow improper connections at your home. An unprotected garden hose lying in a puddle is a cross connection. An unprotected lawn sprinkler system is also a cross connection. Also, residents in neighborhoods utilizing reclaimed water for irrigation must take precautions to prevent cross connections. Reclaimed water is not suitable for potable use and must not be connected to household plumbing. When the cross connection is allowed to exist at your home, it will affect you and your family first. Read the current Water Quality Report. KNOW YOUR LOCAL H20 The City’s water supply comes from two independent sources, the shallow aquifer and the deeper Floridan aquifer. Raw water from the shallow aquifer, which is about 100 feet deep, is treated by an 8.0 million gallon-per day lime softening facility. This process is a combination of pH adjustments with lime, coagulation with a polymer, multi-media filtration, and disinfection with chloramines. The deeper Floridan aquifer, which is about 1,350 feet deep, is treated by an 11.15 million gallon-per day and a 22.5 million gallon-per day reverse osmosis facilities. Both finished waters are blended, pH adjusted, disinfected, and fluoride is added. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations, which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health. Watch to learn more about the reverse osmosis treatment process. WATER CONSERVATION The environment, the economy, and our quality of life are all connected by water. As Port St. Lucie’s population grows, so does the need for all residents to conserve water. Water conservation is less expensive than developing new sources and it reduces stress on our natural systems. Being environmentally responsible also saves you money on your water bill. You are part of a larger movement that ensures a sustainable water supply for generations to come. Make water conservation as much a part of your life as water itself. Learn more about ways to save water. U T I L I T Y. C I T YO F P S L . C O M U T I L I T Y S Y S T E M S D E PA R T M E N T 27