In April 2024 the board of directors contacted Commissioner Rob Feltner regarding the inconsistent delivery of reclaimed water.  Below is the response from Utility Director Edward Fontanin:

I am in receipt of your email inquiring about the reuse system for the Viera East developments.  If I may, please let me share with you what this department is doing currently, and the future for the success of our reuse system.

Before I begin with what we are doing to improve the system allow me to share some current statistics of our reuse system.  Our system begins at the South Central Wastewater Treatment Facility located on the western limits of Wickham Road.  Our treatment plant is rated for 12 million gallons per day (MGD) of treatment capacity and is currently receiving approximately 4.8 MGD.  Those 4.8 MGD are treated for reuse distribution and placed in our system.  We have 2 – one million gallon ground storage tanks at the South Central Wastewater Treatment Facility and another 2 million gallon tank in Suntree, off of Spyglass Road.  Each of these ground storage tanks include booster pumps designed to maintain a set pressure for the system.  All the ground storage tanks mentioned are filled at approximately midnight and emptied due to usage by 3-4 a.m.  As wastewater is treated throughout the day, all of it is distributed to our reuse system thus helps maintain the pressure.  We are observing the pressures begin to drop at around 11 a.m.

As we continue to operate our system, we are always looking for ways to make it better.  We reflect that by including reuse projects in our annual budget.  We have several projects that have recently been completed, are on-going and are programmed for the near future.  Recently, we completed a 12-inch reuse extension along Viera Boulevard from Grande Isle Boulevard to Holiday Springs Road (approximately $900,000 for construction).  Previously, there were reuse lines dead-ended at each of these streets, now they are looped for better flow to that area of Viera.  Soon, we will be advertising for bid for the construction of a 16-inch reuse transmission main along Viera Boulevard, starting at the intersection of Stadium Parkway and Viera Boulevard, to the intersection of Murrell Road and Viera Boulevard.  He estimated construction cost is $2.7M with a completion date of February 2025.  Currently, the only reuse transmission line cross I95 is along Wickham Road.  This investment of a 2nd transmission main on the north side of the Viera area will improve the flow of reuse.  Also in construction, is a $2.4M investment of the reuse pumping system at the Suntree Reuse Booster Station.  This project is at 40% completion with the intent to increase system pressure.  Currently, you may be seeing one of our contractors throughout Viera performing valve exercise.  This is to make sure that all our valves function and if not, are programmed to be replaced.  When doing the valve exercising on the reuse valves throughout Viera and Suntree we discovered that over 12% of the valves were shut but should not have been.  We have discovered that private irrigation companies are opening and shutting valves without our permission thus impacting the flow of reuse throughout.  We have already found some valves in 2024 that again were shut but should not have been.  Finally, I want to let you know that we are in the conceptual phase of expanding the amount of reuse we can provide to the system by pulling water from our wetlands for distribution to the reuse system.  We are in coordination with the St. John River Water Management District on logistics and receiving grants for this implementation.

As mentioned, above we are investing to make the reuse system better.  However, there are factors that exceeds our control.  Properties over irrigating, sprinkler heads blown off consuming more reuse and not irrigating, sprinklers that water the pavement and not grass and irrigation occurring in the mid day which is the worst time to irrigate due to the high rate of evaporation.  We have and will continue to educate the public on best practices of irrigation, as provided to us from the Water Management District.  However, when excess irrigation occurs as mentioned during minimal or no rainfall, it becomes challenging to meet the demands.  We are confident that the current and future investments will make this system better as it happens.  

Finally let me say, we have a team of dedicated staff whose focus is to maintain and observe our reuse system for this area.  It is the expectation of all in this department to be responsive and professional.  As issues come up to please let us know as we will appropriately address them.

We acknowledge the lack of flow observed by your staff along Murrell and have allocated the team to confirm on the valves being open.

I hope this email provides a better understanding of what is occurring and our efforts.

Edward Fontanin, PE

Department Director

Brevard County Utility Services

PH: 321.633.2091

FAX: 321.633.2095

 

 

New Reuse Hotline Provides Residents Status and Availability of Reclaimed Water

Due to provider issues, the Brevard County Utility Services Reuse Hotline has been issued a new telephone number. The number is 321-733-5634.

This line will be updated regularly with the status and availability of reclaimed water in your area. You will be prompted to press the appropriate number for your particular area:

Press 1 for the Mims Area
Press 2 for Merritt Island and Port St. John Areas
Press 3 for the Suntree and Viera Areas
Press 4 for the Melbourne Beach Area

Brevard County Utility Services thanks all of our customers for their patience during this telephone transition.