Who’sWho IN BOYNTON BEACH UTILITIES?
Bevis Pigott, P.E. Manager, Treatment Operations Born in Brooklyn, New York, but grew up in the beautiful Caribbean island of Antigua. HISTORY WITH THE CITY:
9 YEARS Colin Groff, P.E., Assistant City Manager Public Services At the age of 6, learned to downhill snow ski at a local golf course. HISTORY WITH THE CITY:
11YEARS
HISTORY WITH THE CITY:
HISTORY WITH THE CITY:
Steve Evans Supervisor, Water Quality and Conservation Learned to ride motorbikes and play pinball in the suburbs of Western Paris, France. HISTORY WITH THE CITY:
29 YEARS
1YEAR
Barb Conboy Manager, Customer Service Most favorite adventure was swimming with dolphins with her family.
Michael Low, C. Eng. Manager, Technical Services Born into Irish, Welsh, English and German heritage.
11YEARS
HISTORY WITH THE CITY:
3 YEARS
Christopher Roschek, P.E. Manager, Engineering and Construction Celebrated his first birthday on the island of Guam when his dad was stationed there while in the U.S. Navy. HISTORY WITH THE CITY:
Joseph Paterniti, P.E. Manager, Field Operations One of four boys born in Jamestown, New York into a family of Sicilian immigrants.
30 YEARS
Holly Daley Chemist/Quality Assurance Officer Performed agility training with her rescue miniature Pinscher, Honeybun.
11YEARS
HISTORY WITH THE CITY:
The primary goal of Boynton Beach Utilities is to produce the highest quality water in an environmentally responsible manner and at the lowest possible cost. Raw water is pumped from the East Coast Surficial Aquifer by wells that vary in depth from 50 to 250 feet. During our dry season, December through May, we rely heavily on our western wellfield and water that has been stored in our Aquifer Storage and Recovery system (ASR). ASR allows us to store treated water during the rainy season when water is plentiful and use it during the dry season when water is scarce. The West Water Treatment Plant, a state of the art membrane treatment plant, operates 11 wells and has a rated capacity of 10.4 million gallons per day. The East Water Treatment Plant, a lime softening facility, operates 19 wells and has a rated capacity of 19.2 million gallons per day. It is currently undergoing a major upgrade that will increase its rated capacity to 24 million gallons per day and implement an ion exchange process called MIEX. MIEX treatment will remove virtually all the color from the water and much of the mineral and organic content, resulting in less disinfection byproducts and scale buildup. The water used for this process will be transmitted from our western wellfield via the new raw water pipeline thereby protecting the eastern wellfield from salt water intrusion. The improvement in water quality, coupled with protection of our environment, is a win-win for all.
Be informed about your water utility and the high-quality drinking water delivered to your homes and businesses. The City encourages community participation and feedback. If you have questions about this report, or if you would like a copy of our water system’s complete source water assessment, call 561.742.6400, 561.742.6300 (Creole) and 561.742.6300 (Spanish). For additional information about water quality, call the Environmental Protections Agency (EPA)’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800.426.4791.
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons, such as those with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, those who have undergone organ transplants, those with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. Environmental Protections Agency (EPA)/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Hotline 800.426.4971.
A new 36-inch raw water main was installed connecting the west wellfield to the East Water Treatment Plant. This 6-mile long pipeline will provide raw water up to 24 million gallons per day (MGD) and to support future development and growth in the City.
A sixteen million gallons per day (MGD) resin plant was installed that pretreats raw water being pumped from the west wellfield to the East Water Treatment Plant. This high rate system has an improved design, minimal footprint and reduces operating costs.
Phase I of the Central Seacrest Neighborhood Improvement Project was completed in February 2016 and consisted of replacing aging and undersized water mains, eliminating rear easement water services, upgrading stormwater systems, and landscaping improvements.
A new 3 million gallon potable water storage tank was constructed on the East Water Treatment Plant to provide additional water storage capacity and pressure maintenance in support of increasing population density east of I-95.
Pence Park lift station was placed online to serve the eastern part of the City and support redevelopment along Federal Highway. It was designed to blend in with the existing park facilities and improvements. A decorative gate, painted concrete wall and new landscaping were included in the project.
Boynton Beach Utilities is committed to ensuring the ongoing reliability of its assets and infrastructure. A variety of construction projects are completed each year to continue to provide unparalleled utility services to our customers.
Several water main replacement projects in the northeast section of the City were completed utilizing a method called “pre-chlorinated pip bursting�. In the future, this trenchless technology will replace old pipe with new pipe without major excavation of the roadway, reducing service disruptions and costs.
Several stormwater improvement projects were completed in Venetian and Treasure Isles and Northwest 1st Street to help with collection and management of stormwater runoff. These projects consisted of re-establishing swales along the roadways to improve road drainage and to prevent the flooding of homes during large rain events.
In 2016, reclaimed water services were extended to all of High Point and Bethesda Park Condominiums. This helps to replace potable water as an irrigation source thereby supporting the departments’ water conservation goals.
The replacement and upsizing of water mains and installation of an outfall in the Lakeside Garden neighborhood, via a co-share with the Casa del Mar developer, was completed. An outfall was installed on Ocean Inlet Drive to alleviate localized flooding.
The northeast 11th Avenue project was entirely designed and performed by in-house personnel, saving costs. The project improved pressure, water quality and fire protection to the immediate neighborhood by replacing the existing 4" water mains with new 8" water mains.
2016Water QualityTest Results Contaminant and Unit of Measurement
Dates of Sampling (mo./yr.)
MCL/AL Violation (Y/N)
Highest Level Detected
Range of Levels Detected
MCLG
MCL
Fluoride, ppm
June 2016
No
.43
0.10 - 0.24
4
4.0
Nitrate (as nitrogen), ppm
Jan. 2016
No
0.22
0.030 - 0.22
10
10.0
Contaminant and Unit of Measurement
Dates of sampling (mo./yr.)
AL exceeded (Y/N)
90th Percentile Result
No. of sampling sites exceeding the AL
MCLG
AL (Action Level)
Copper (tap water), ppm
Sept. 2015
No
0.126
No samples exceeded AL
1.3
1.3
Lead (tap water), ppb
Sept. 2015
No
0.00033
One sample exceeded AL
0
0.015
Disinfectant or Contaminant and Unit of Measurement
Dates of sampling (mo./yr.)
MCL Violation Y/N
Level Detected
Range of Results
Chloramines (ppm)
Jan., Apr., July, Oct. 2016
No
2.86ยน
0.1 - 5.1
Haloacetic Acids (HAA 5), ppb,
Jan., Apr., July, Oct. 2016
No
31.2ยน
1.75 - 30.8
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), ppb,
Jan., Apr., July, Oct. 2016
No
55.7ยน
2.95 - 56.6
May 2016
No
1.7
NA
Contaminant and Unit of Measurement
Dates of sampling (mo./yr.)
MCL Violation Y/N
Highest Monthly Percentage/Number
MCLG
Total Coliform Bacteria (Positive Samples)
Feb. 2016
No
3.7
0
Dalapon, ppb
Boynton Beach Utilities routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws, rules, and regulations. Except where indicated otherwise, this report is based on the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1 to December 31, 2016. Data obtained before January 1, 2017, and presented in this report are from the most recent testing done in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations.
Likely Source of Contamination
Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories. Water additive which promotes strong teeth when at the optimum level of 0.7 ppm. Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits
AL: Action Level. The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements, that a water system must follow. FECAL COLIFORM/E.COLI: Fecal Coliforms and E.Coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes.
LRAA: Locational Running Annual Average. Likely Source of Contamination
The average of sample analytical results for samples taken at a particular monitoring location during the previous four calendar quarters.
Corrosion of household plumbing system; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives.
MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level. The highest level of a contaminant that is a llowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits.
MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal. The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. MCLG
MCL
4.0
4.0
Water additive used to control microbes.
NA
60
By-product of drinking water disinfection.
NA
80
By-product of drinking water disinfection.
200 ppb MCL
Likely Source of Contamination
Runoff from herbicide used on rights of way. Likely Source of Contamination
MRDL: Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level. The highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants. MRDLG: Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal. The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants. ND: Not Detected. Indicates that the substance was not found by laboratory analysis. ppb: Parts Per Billion. A unit of measurement
< 5 % of monthly samples
1
Naturally present in the environment.
Denotes running annual average of 4 consecutive quarterly results, individual results may be higher.
Health Effects: Fecal coliforms and E.Coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.
equal to one part by weight of a contaminant in 1 billion parts by weight of water. This could be compared to 1 second in 11,500 days or 1 inch in 15,800 miles.
ppm: Parts Per Million. A unit of measurement equal to one part by weight of a contaminant in 1 million parts by weight of water. This could be compared to 1 second in 11.5 days or 1 inch in 15.8 miles.
TT: Treatment Technique. A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
The sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, adioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.
• Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. • Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming. • Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses. • Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems. • Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration establishes limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health. All drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects may be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800.426.4791.
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Boynton Beach Utilities is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead or may be obtained by calling 1.800.426.4791.
In 2016, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection performed a Source Water Assessment on the 31 production wells that make up our system in order to determine possible sources of contamination. Ten Unique Potential Contaminant Sources were identified. All of these sources were deemed low risk and 6 of the sources are under City control. As a safeguard, we test each production well twice a year for organic contaminants above and beyond EPA regulations. The Source Water Assessment results may be found at www.dep.state.fl.us/swapp or may be obtained by calling 561.742.6964.
Community Outreach Stormwater is excess rainfall that is not absorbed into the ground. As the rainfall runs off to nearby canals, lakes, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the ocean, it can pick up dirt, debris, chemicals and other pollutants. These pollutants are carried to the surface waters we use for fishing, boating and swimming. Intentional dumping or discharge into stormwater systems, as well as accidental spills that could enter the drainage system, should be reported immediately by calling 561-742-6400. It matters because: • Debris can be harmful • Nutrients (from leaves, grass, fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides) can kill wildlife and cause excessive amounts of algae in the water • Bacteria (from pet waste and dead animals) can produce heath concerns • Sediment can reduce the system’s ability to handle potential flooding and adversely affect aquatic organisms • Chemicals, oils and paints can be toxic to plants and animals KEEP POLLUTION OUT OF OUR WATERS!
Boynton Beach Utilities is committed to providing tools that will reduce your water use inside and outside of your home. Water saving conservation kits and hose nozzles are available free of charge at City Hall, 100 East Boynton Beach Boulevard and at the Utilities Administration building, 124 E. Woolbright Road.
Boynton Beach Utilities is committed to educating young water consumers on the value of clean, safe drinking water. WaterWise, a water conservation program sponsored by Boynton Beach Utilities is taught in local community fifth grade classrooms. The program teaches students, teachers and parents the value of drinking water and the importance of water conservation. The program is a perfect blend of classroom instruction, installation of water saving devices and measurement of water conserved. This past year, 1,030 students participated in WaterWise program. These students have learned valuable lessons! This past year, nearly 5,593 gallons of water was saved - that means 5,760,790 gallons of water has been saved for future generations. In Boynton Beach, we encourage everyone to save some water for a sunny day!
Studies have shown that “flushable” wipes do not break down as readily as toilet paper. As a result these wipes are clogging pipes, getting caught in pumps and other equipment thereby leading to overflows and sewage backups. Boynton Beach Utilities recently cleaned one of its master wastewater pumping stations removing flushable wipes that had accumulated to a depth of approximately 2-4 feet. While there is no legal requirement for a product to be labeled “flushable”, customers are reminded to refrain from flushing wipes and encourage the industry to develop products that do not cause environmental issues.
10 1. Top
Tips for the Home Gardener from the
Water infrequently, deeply and thoroughly
Most lawns need about 3/4 to 1 inch of water once per week, or once every two weeks when the weather cools. Water can come from rain, or from irrigation. Infrequent but deep watering encourages deep rooting, as well as healthier and hardier plants with a greater tolerance for drought.
2. Water at the right time of day Water early in the day, especially in warmer weather, when evaporation rates are lowest.
3. Watch your lawn instead of a schedule or calendar Your lawn needs watering when: • Grass blades are folded in half • Grass blades are blue-gray • Your footprint remains on the lawn
4. Too much water can hurt plants Over-watering creates shallow roots, making plants more vulnerable to disease and pests, as well as to drought.
5. Drip or micro-irrigation systems save water These systems deliver water to the root of plants, so much less is lost to the atmosphere.
6. Mulching Adding mulch helps to keep water in the soil around plants. At least two inches is suggested around shrubs, trees, annuals and vegetable and flower gardens.
7. Remove Weeds; Add Native Plants Weeds or other unwanted plants use water. Removing them means more water for the plants you want. Native plants are adapted to our rainy and dry seasons, and offer habitat to area wildlife.
8. Install a rain sensor This recognizes when nature brings the water your lawn needs, and shuts off automatic sprinklers.
9. Adjust your lawnmower blades Most lawns are healthiest when blades are 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches long. Longer blades shade the soil, and keep in water.
10. Keep lawnmower blades sharp Clean, sharp cuts cause less trauma to grass blades, making the grass more resistant to disease.
Palm Beach County has restrictions related to when homeowners can water their landscapes. Watering is permitted 3 days per week, before 10 am and after 4 pm only. Odd numbered addresses must water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays; even numbered addresses are permitted to water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Watering is not permitted on Fridays. Remember that you do not need to water all three days - observe your grass, plants and local rainfall to reduce your number of watering days.
Customer Service Billing The average customer served by Boynton Beach Utilities uses approximately 5,000 gallons of water per month that includes sewer collection, refuse collection and stormwater management fees. With this use, in a single-family residence, the average monthly invoice will be $71.05 or about $2.30 per day. WATER & SEWER BASE FACILITY CHARGE (BFC) Pays for the pipes, pumps and plants necessary to treat, deliver, collect and dispose of the water WATER & SEWER CONSUMPTION CHARGE: Pays the cost of labor, material and supplies for water and sewer use. REFUSE COLLECTION CHARGE: Pays for the cost of collection and disposing of garbage. These services provide quality of life benefits including clean, safe, drinking water, sewer disposal/treatment, stormwater management and garbage collection/disposal. STORMWATER CHARGE: Pays for the installation and maintenance of drainage inlets, pipes and stormwater facilities along with street sweeping and stormwater treatment to protect surface water from pollution
This system provides phone and online options so that customers can easily access their bills and manage payments on their accounts. In addition, this system provides feedback via payment confirmations or rejections and provides intelligent reminders such as expired credit card notices, bank account changes or the availability of a new bill. Paperless bill selections are now available and future options may include monthly re-occurring payments with customer designated amounts and dates and additional payment sites. Customer participation in the system is voluntary so existing methods of payment are still available including mailing of bills and payments or utilizing the City Hall drop box and Customer Service counter for payments. Staff are also reviewing a new customer portal to give customers access to their water usage, patterns of use, historical trends and other relevant information.
What does it cost to provide 5,000 gallons of water to a home?
SEWER TREATMENT
SEWER COLLECTION
$5.15
$6.10
CUSTOMER SERVICE DRINKING WATER DELIVERY
$2.21
$2.10 DRINKING WATER TREATMENT
$6.24
Boynton Beach Utilities
PRST STD US POSTAGE
PAID FT. LAUD. FL PERMIT # 7
Mayor Steven B. Grant, At-Large Vice Mayor Justin Katz, District I Cmr. Joseph Casello, District IV Cmr. Mack McCray, District II Cmr. Christina Romelus, District III Lori LaVerriere, City Manager
BOYNTON BEACH TELEVISION
www.boynton-beach.org
Boynton Beach Utilities is committed to being leaders in providing high quality, affordable and reliable water, stormwater and sanitary sewer services to all customers.
As professional service providers, Boynton Beach Utilities will be accountable to our customers as key stakeholders by working tirelessly to ensure: • ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE – support the City Commission’s goal of being a vibrant and sustainable community by managing the natural resources using the most efficient methods available, and ensuring the highest return of renewing and reusing the resources and protecting the environment. • OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS – explore new processes, technologies, energy and cost efficiencies which support the City Commission’s vision for future growth nd development. • WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT – support the City Commission’s goal of being a high performing organization by supporting our employees to continue to grow as knowledgeable, skilled and dedicated professionals.
Water Treatment Plant Grand Opening { c. 1962 } PHOTO APPEARED IN BOYNTON BEACH NEWS COURTESY OF BOYNTON BEACH CITY LIBRARY
Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .561.742.6400 (M-TH from 8:00 am -5:00 pm; FR from 8:00 am - 4:30 pm) Customer Services/Billing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .561.742.6300 Emergency Customer Service After Hours . . . .561.742.6430 (City Holidays, M-TH after 5:00 pm and FR after 4:30 pm) Water Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .561.742.6964 CDC/EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline . . . . . . .800.426.4791
Phase 1 Construction { c. 1960 } COURTESY OF BOYNTON BEACH CITY LIBRARY
This document is available in alternate accessible formats by calling 561.742.6241.