News Beat

through surface waters. Existing and changing regulations exist for AR wells and surface waters, with an increased requirement to meeting primary and secondary drinking water standards, which can most economically be met through surface disinfection. Monochloramine was selected for this disinfectant to mitigate DBPs. The monochloramine system is intended to reduce DBPs and coliforms, while maintaining minimum chlorine residual.

In the extended St. Cloud pilot example, TTHMs were reduced from a median of 136 mg/L to a median of 4.2 mg/L, the HAA5 were reduced from a median of 32.05 mg/L to a median of 15.90 mg/L, fecal coliforms were reduced from a multitude of quantifiable values to no detectable values (with two exceptions), and total coliforms were reduced from a multitude of quantifiable values to no detectable values (once the chlorine burn maintenance was coordinated), all before being injected down the onsite well.

Water quality monitoring has demonstrated that these DBPs and coliforms have decreased since the addition of the monochloramine disinfection and have remained low (between nondetect and values well below regulation limits), suggesting that the chloramination in place of the chlorination has limited the DBPs and coliforms, while still maintaining required disinfection residual for the formation of public access reuse.

Water quality data for the Bradenton application, with discharge to surface water (including DBCM and DCBM reduction requirements) and for the Flatford application with surface water as the source water, will be determined during the subsequent phases of each of those projects, which are both currently in construction.

The ability to show the efficacy of the monochloramine disinfection systems at the surface of these recharge wells on mitigating DBPs, lowering long-term O&M costs, and securing an operation permit will further advance the feasibility of monochloramine disinfection for other AR wells throughout Florida. S

The mayor of the City of Orlando has asked residents to stop watering lawns and washing cars immediately, saying that water usage needs to be cut back because of the recent surge of COVID-19 hospitalizations.

The Orlando Utility Commission treats the city’s water with liquid oxygen, and supplies that usually go toward water treatment have been diverted to hospitals for patients suffering from the virus, according to Buddy Dyer, Orlando mayor.

“We acknowledge that the main priority for the liquid oxygen should be for hospitals,” Dyer said at a news conference.

The city-owned utility typically goes through 10 trucks of liquid oxygen a week, but its supplier recently said that it would be cut back to five to seven trucks a week to accommodate hospitals.

About 40 percent of the utility commission’s potable water is used for irrigation, so any strains on the water supply will be greatly reduced if residents stop watering their lawns, washing their cars, or using pressure washers.

On its website, the utility said residents should prepare to follow the conservation measures for at least two weeks.

Since the 1990s, the utility has used liquid oxygen to remove the slight discoloration and rotten-egg smell that is found naturally in Florida’s water supply.

Officials at one of the Orlando area’s largest health care systems said that they had 1,620 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, twice the level of what it was during last winter’s peak high for AdventHealth.

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Matthew (Matt) Munz recently joined the company as a senior project manager, based out of Tampa, serving water and wastewater utility clients across the state. Munz has previously managed multimillion-dollar water, wastewater, reclaimed water, and reuse projects. Using both conventional and design-build delivery methods, he has led projects through all stages, including feasibility studies, planning, permitting, design, construction, and commissioning.

He is experienced in a variety of water, wastewater, reclaimed water, and reuse projects, including feasibility studies, master planning, permitting, design, construction, and commissioning utilizing both conventional and alternative delivery methods. Munz has managed projects ranging in value from less than $10,000 to over $2 million and has substantial experience providing construction engineering and inspection services for utilities projects ranging from treatment plant upgrades to underground utility relocations.

He has a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the University of South Florida.

Matthew Munz

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The American Public Works Association (APWA) has selected a new president-elect, long-time active member Keith Pugh, P.E., PWLF. Previous presidentelect, Dan Hartman, stepped down from his role, citing ongoing health issues and his concern that he would not be able to give the role the energy it deserves.

Pugh has been active with APWA for over 20 years, starting with serving on the Engineering and Technology Committee. He’s served on other national committees within APWA and been very active in leadership in the North Carolina Chapter.

He is a client success manager with WithersRavenel in Asheville, N.C., and will assume the office of president at the Public Works Expo (PWX), scheduled to be held August 28-31, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C.

“The APWA has an excellent process with which to fill vacancies in unfortunate situations. The selection of Keith Pugh as president-elect means APWA will continue to be in good hands,” said Stan Brown, APWA president. “His breadth and depth of experience will serve the association well.”

“I am excited to have been chosen to fill the unexpired term of president-elect,” said Pugh. “It’s a challenging role and I look forward to diving into it and helping to guide AWPA through the next year of my presidency.”

The APWA is a not-for-profit, international organization of more than 30,000 members involved in the field of public works. It serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education,

Keith Pugh