FWRC 2022 – CONNECT AGAIN! OPERATORS SHOWCASE
Operators Hear Timely Topics for the Water and Wastewater Industry Operators traveled from across Florida to attend the conference. On April 24, some attended the Operators Showcase to have a beer and discuss current topics in the water utility industry. The showcase is sponsored by the Florida Water and Pollution Control Operators Association (FWPCOA), and this year the discussion was moderated by Ken Enlow, project manager at the Tampa Bay Water Surface Water Treatment Plant.
The session had two presenters: S C arlyn Higgins, Ph.D., E.I., assistant engineer II with Hazen and Sawyer, talked about indirect potable reuse, equipment, and operator certification. S Mike Darrow, superintendent of utility operations at Plant City, gave a rules update.
S W etland restoration S Toilet flushing S Washdown Groundwater and surface water augmentation are used for indirect potable reuse and finished water augmentation is used for direct potable reuse.
Dr. Carlyn Higgins
Higgins Presentation: Potable Water Reuse
Florida Reuse Projects and Regulations In Florida, potable water reuse projects are underway at the following cities and utilities, with project status indicated: S City of Clearwater (operated July 2013 – June 2014) S Hillsborough County (design phase) S Tampa Bay Water (2016 – ongoing) S City of Altamonte Springs (2016 – ongoing) S JEA (phase I in 2018; phase II began 2019)
S C ity of Daytona Beach (March 2017 – November 2021) S City of Tampa (feasibility phase) S City of Plant City (2022 – ongoing) Higgins presented the recent timeline for potable reuse regulation: S 2018 – 2019: Public Reuse Commission holds public meetings. S 2020: Senate Bill (SB) 712 directs the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to develop rules for all types of water reuse. S 2020: Later in the year, SB 64 requires elimination of nonbeneficial surface water discharge by 2032. S 2021: The FDEP issues draft potable reuse rules and revisions to wastewater and drinking water chapters. A pilot is
Drivers and Types of Potable Reuse Potable water reuse is being considered in many parts of the United States. There are several drivers for potable water reuse: S Traditional source water limitations (quantity and/or quality) S Limited drinking water treatment capacity S Limited drinking water distribution capacity S Environmental discharge restrictions S Limited collection system capacity (onsite reuse) S Compatibility of reclaimed water with water use application S Environmental augmentation There are several types of nonpotable reuse: S Irrigation S Cooling S Boiler feed S Refineries
22 July 2022 • Florida Water Resources Journal
Types of water use. (source: CUWA, 2019)
