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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996 06 10 Informational Item C ( ;;;- COMMISSION AGENDA IT EM c REGULAR CONSENT INFORMATIONAL X June 10. 1996 Meeting MGR f((;/A IDEPT If1/' Authorization REQUEST: Public Works DepartmentlUtility Division Updating the City Commission on the Water Reuse Program PURPOSE: The purpose of this Board item is to update the City Commission as to the availability of reclaimed water to residents and advise the City Commission the alternatives available to those Residents who do not and may not have reclaimed water service provided to them CONSIDERATIONS: The City Commission adopted the Reuse Feasibility and Implementation Plan dated May, 1994 for the West system in July of 1994. This plan provided for the orderly expansion of a reclaimed water distribution system to selVe the residents in the West system area based on survey results, proximity to existing/proposed lines, and the amount of reclaimed water available. The subdivisions to receive reclaimed water as proposed in the capital improvement portion of the plan in the order listed over the next five years are; Highland Village I & 2, North Orlando Terrace Sec. 1, Greenspointe, Highlands Sec. 7 & 8, Wildwood, Highlands Sec. 4 & 5, and North Orlando Terraces Sec. 4. In addition, the developers for Highland Lakes and Winding Hollow have installed reclaimed water lines. Central Winds Park and Winter Springs High School are also connected to the system as will be the proposed median irrigation for S.R 434. Commercial properties along S.R 434 which have reclaimed water available are State Farm, Barnett Bank, Winter Springs Center, and Winter Springs Elementary. The barbershop at Fairfax Avenue and S.R 434 and the car wash further west are not contiguous to any existing or proposed reclaimed water mains, however, the barbershop could make arrangements with the Winter Springs "> (. June 10, 1996 Information Agenda Item C Page l Center to connect into their irrigation system as they have reclaimed water available to them In Fiscal Year 1996/1997, there is $1.3 million proposed in the capital improvement portion of the Utility Department budget to complete the East wastewater treatment plant requirements that will allow us to begin providing reclaimed water to residents in the Oak Forest/Tuscawilla area. The following subdivisions in the East system have installed a reclaimed water distribution that are currently fed from the potable water system; Arrowhead, Tusca Oaks, Chestnut Estates, Howell Creek Reserve, Eagles Watch, and Chestnut Ridge. When next years plant improvements are completed in approximately 18 months, Arrowhead and Tusca Oaks will be immediately connected to the reclaimed water system The remainder will have to wait until the distribution mains are extended to their subdivisions. A reclaimed water distribution master plan is proposed in next years budget to determine which existing subdivisions will be retrofitted with reclaimed water distribution systems. The prioritizations will be based on survey results, volume available, lot size and proximity to existing/proposed mains. ALTERNATIVES: For those residents who do not and will not have reclaimed water distributed to them there are several alternatives available to lower their irrigation costs; rain sensors and shallow wells. Rain sensors are now required by the St. John's River Water Management District for all new irrigation systems. These devices shut off the irrigation system once a predetermined amount of rainfall occurs, usually 1/4" to WI. After the rain has evaporated from the device, the irrigation system is allowed to come on. They sell for $20 to $30 and are a relatively simple electrical device to install. Installation by an irrigation contractor costs approximately $30 to $40. As part of our backflow inspection program, we check for rain sensors and recommend that those customers without rain sensors have them installed. Shallow wells can be installed on a residents lot by an irrigation contractor for $500 to $700. These shallow wells are totally disconnected from the City system and withdraw groundwater from the water table and are 20 to 40 feet deep. Water quality does vary from location to location and some wells may have high iron and/or sulfur levels which can result in staining or odors. Other than pump electrical costs, maintenance costs are minimal. -, .. June 10, 1996 Information Agenda Item C Pagel Irrigation meters were an option up until approximately 1989, when the City Commission agreed with the staff recommendation to discontinue the issuance of irrigation meters to residential customers. The logic behind the recommendation was that the issuance of irrigation meters promoted the usage of potable water for irrigation which is contrary to water use restrictions implemented at that time (and still in place) by the SIR WMD and the City's water conservation goals. There is a maximum charge on sewer usage of 10,000 gallons per month based on the average usage of a single family home so that the sewer charge is not used to penalize irrigation usage. The irrigation meter water rates are structured to surcharge irrigation usage the same as regular meter water rates are. The only savings that can occur from insta1ling irrigation meters is on the sewer charges and that is rarely significant based on the cap built into the rate system Irrigation meters are still available to commercial customers because there is no maximum sewer charge for commercial accounts. RECOMMENDATION: The Utility Division recommends that we continue with the reuse program as adopted in the Reclaimed Water Master Plan and only supplement the program with those residential/commercial customers that can be easily assimilated into the adopted plan with minor deviations. COMMISSION ACTION: None required, informational purposes.