Enjoy reading about what your Utility Department is accomplishing in this Fall edition of our quarterly bulletin.

Javier Vargas, Director of Utilities

Water Production and Quality Assurance

Utilities PIPELINE Fall 2017

The City has production wells located around the city limits that withdraw groundwater from the Intermediate Aquifer System (IAS). Monthly samples are taken to monitor the quality of the production wells. Additionally, there are observation wells that are utilized to assess the surrounding groundwater levels and quality.

Groundwater is pumped from the wells to the City's Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Plant. The brackish water, water having more salinity, is processed and the finished product (potable drinking water) is delivered to the distribution sys-tem, two storage facilities, and our customers.

We are proud to report that the City of Venice drinking water meets or exceeds all federal and state established water quality standards. Utilities staff work around the clock to ensure our customers and visitors are receiving safe quality drinking water.

Please visit the City’s website at www.venicegov.com to review our annual water quality report.

While driving around Venice, have you ever noticed water jetting out of a fire hydrant and wonder what’s that all about? The two main reasons are Water Quality and Hydrant Maintenance.

Water Quality: Flushing is required to maintain quality of the water in the entire distribution system within parameters of several regulatory agencies. Pictured below, a water sample is taken to check the disinfection residuals in the water mains. The Utilities Department flushes hydrants on a scheduled basis to maintain the safest and highest quality of drinking water possible.

Hydrant Maintenance: Hydrant valves are exercised (opened and

closed) to ensure they are operational. Lubrication, painting, and repairs are per-formed as necessary. The PSI (pounds per square inch) is also checked to verify adequate flows for fire fighting and pressure to customers.

When maintenance is performed, some customers may experience temporary discoloration of their water. This primarily consists of harmless silt and does not affect the safety of the water. If you experience discoloration in your water after flushing has occurred, clear your pipes by running water from all the outside spigots for 3 to 5 minutes, then indoor faucets, if necessary.

This same philosophy of water line preventive maintenance is one that residents and business owners should implement. A water heater should be flushed annually to keep it working efficiently and protect the quality of water being provided to the property. If there has been no water use for a week or more, it is recommended to run all the outdoor spigots for 3 to 5 minutes, then indoor faucets (hot and cold), before using the water. This will help to ensure that you do not use any stagnant water.

Maintaining Water Quality

Water Main Replacement, Phase 5: The City has many areas where the water mains are beyond their useful life, undersized, and located in rear easements of residential properties and businesses. Many of the existing water mains are unlined cast iron which are susceptible to a type of corrosion known as tuberculation. Over time, the pipes become smaller in diameter decreasing the water pressure in the distribution system.

Access to rear lots becomes more difficult due to fences, landscaping, and vegetation being introduced to the areas. Gaining access to rear lots is inconvenient to property owners and adds time for service calls, ultimately increasing costs to the City and it's customers. Relocating water services and installing replacement water mains to the front or side right-of-ways allows City staff to safely and efficiently maintain the water system.

Phase 5 is scheduled to go out to bid by the end of 2017. This phase includes approximately 7,850 lineal feet (lf) of new water main that will be installed and 155 water services and meters to be relocated. Additionally, twenty-

seven valves, five fire hydrants, and various appurtenances will be installed.

When the new water mains have been tested and cleared for use, they are connected to the existing system.

Some water shutdowns will be necessary to perform the work. As a precautionary measure, boil water advisories are required by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) when an interruption in service causes customers to have low or no water pressure. Advisories are provided via a door hanger to affected properties, are posted on the City’s website, and entered into the CodeRed emergency system.

When the new main is placed in use, the final step is to grout the old water mains and abandon in place.

Water Distribution System Improvements The Water Valve Replacement Program is a major capital improvement to the city’s water distribution system. Replacement of old and inoperable valves have increased the integrity of the aging system and eased the daily operation and maintenance. Our customers will benefit from the improved system stability and a decrease in water shut-downs. In the event of a water main break, service is restored to the customer in a more safe and efficient manner.

To date, over 130 water main and fire hydrant valves have been replaced as well as some reclaimed water valves.

Pre-construction activities are underway for Phase 11; valves in this phase range in size from 4 to 16 inch.

The work will occur at or near five areas:

1. Warfield Ave. N. at Venice Ave. E. and Warfield Ave. S. at Camion St.; 2. North of 405 Manatee Ct. in a parkingarea; 3. Intersection of Cypress Ave. and Grove St. S.; 4. Bird Bay Dr. E. just south of Bird Bay Village entrance, in the median. 5. North side of Venice Ave. E. just east of U.S. 41 ByPass.

Above: old, inoperable water valves

Left: new water valve

For more information regarding completed or ongoing projects, visit the City's website www.venicegov.com,

hover over the Departments tab and choose Utilities.

City of Venice Utilities Administration - 200 N. Warfield Ave. Venice, Florida 34285(941) 480-3333 - Office Hours -Monday through Friday - 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Emergency After Hours - Phone: (941) 486-2770

Above: Lots shown as Red in the Phase 5 boundary are properties where private service lines will be relocated to the right-of-way. For information specific to your property, contact Cynthia Fitzpatrick, Utilities Project Coordinator, at 941-486-2788.

Above: Existing cast iron water main to be abandoned, with visible corrosion.