1. science
2. ecology
3. waste management
4. recycling

January 2015
News from Public Works & Utilities
PW/Utilities Connection
Temporary Water Treatment Change q Land Purchase q ECO Schools
We Are Melbourne Public Works & Utilities...
Spotlight on the Water Distribution Construction Crew
Welcome to a regular section of the vice replacements. We go into areas
that have old systems and run new
Public Works & Utilities Connection
service lines. It’s something you can
Newsletter. Each month we feasee that’s really helpful for people.
ture a different work group within
Victor: Job security and listening to
the department. This month we
Doug’s jokes! These guys are the best.
are featuring the
Skeet: Making
construction crew
the customers
from the Water
happy when
Distribution Divithey have a
sion. This group
leak and we
is responsible for
fix it and also
replacing water
working for the
mains and serCity.
vices and running
Louis: Comnew water lines.
ing over from
Who comprises
a different
this work group
From left: Doug Effler, Skeet Phillips,
department to
and how many
Louis Molina, Eugene Harrison and
this division to
years of experiVictor Diaz.
better myself.
ence does each
What
would
most
people
never
member have with the City:
guess
you
do
in
your
position:
Eugene Harrison: foreman (24
years), Doug Effler (11 years), Victor Eugene: Doing a lot of computer
work and talking with the public.
Diaz (1 year), Larry “Skeet” Phillips
I also have meetings with people
(24 years), Louis Molina (4 years)
from other cities in our distribution
Any special education, training
area about work that needs to be
or certifications:
done there.
Eugene: Class I Water Distribution
Skeet: As a crew leader, it’s trainLicense
ing new employees the right way
Doug: Class II Water Distribution
and making sure they are safe on
License and CDL Class B
the job. There are many potential
Victor: CDL Class B
dangers with their work.
Skeet: Class C Water Distribution
What are some of your hobbies
License and CDL Class A
or outside interests?
Louis: CDL Class B
What is your favorite part of your Eugene: Going hunting and playing
golf. I just got back from a hunting
job:
trip in Georgia.
Eugene: I like the challenge of
Doug: I’m into horticulture. I’ve
repairing a leak after figuring out
been working with plants for 25
what’s wrong. I also like working
years. (He also makes intricate
with the guys — they’re a good
Lego designs and has about
group.
300,000 Legos.)
Doug: Doing water main and serCity of Melbourne Public Works & Utilities Department
Victor: I’m a single dad of a 4-yearold so I don’t have time for hobbies.
Skeet: Handyman work, such as
plumbing and painting.
Louis: Four-wheeling at Bull Creek
and other places.
What’s you favorite sports team?
Eugene: Florida State Seminoles
and Tampa Bay Bucs.
Doug: Race cars — Rolex 24 road
racing and GP motorcycle racing.
Victor: L.A. Lakers.
Skeet: Miami Dolphins and Hurricanes.
Louis: Miami Dolphins.
Besides your family and friends,
what is something you can’t live
without?
Eugene: My two dogs, a redbone
coon hound and a boxer/Miami
blue pitbull mix (he has a 22-yearold daughter).
Doug: MMA and Legos (he has
three kids, ages 11, 16 and 21).
Victor: “Lost” TV shows and all
the great parks around where I can
take my son.
Skeet: Jesus. Also, some of my favorite TV shows, like “Family Feud”
and “Undercover Boss” (he has
seven kids and 14 grandchildren).
Louis: “First 48” TV show.
What would be your dream vacation:
Eugene: I have always dreamed
about going to Australia and would
like to go on a tour of Europe.
Doug: Egypt, but I don’t fly so
thank you Google Earth.
Victor: Snowboarding in Sweden.
Skeet: Hawaii...I would love to see
the beautiful beaches.
Louis: Travel all over Europe.
One
Public Works & Utilities Connection
January 2015
Monthly Water Usage and Raw/Finished Water Quality Statistics
December 2014 Data
Water Usage
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
Water pumped to service: 483,037,000 gallons or
15.582 MGD average
Maximum finished water pumped to service:
16.719 MGD on December 29, 2014
Water quality flushing: 16,322,390 gallons
Committed capacity: 1.3580 MGD
Capacity available for development: 7.9580 MGD
(Based on 12-month average daily flow)
Water Quality Statistics
Lake water
♦ Level: 14.92 feet above MSL on December 31
(Prior month comparison: 14.93 feet on November 30)
♦ pH: 7.3
♦ Alkalinity: 61 mg/L
♦
♦
♦
♦
Total hardness: 92 mg/L
Chlorides: 77 mg/L
Color: 192
Total dissolved solids (TDS): 22 mg/L
Well water
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
pH: 7.4
Alkalinity: 131 mg/L
Total hardness: 621 mg/L
Chlorides: 737 mg/L
Color: 5
Total dissolved solids (TDS): 1,672 mg/L
Finished water - pumped to service
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
pH: 8.4
Alkalinity: 52 mg/L
Total hardness: 66 mg/L
Chlorides: 50 mg/L
Color: 1
Total dissolved solids (TDS): 246 mg/L
Temporary water treatment change scheduled in March
Beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 2, 2015
the City of Melbourne, as part of its maintenance
activities, will temporarily change its method of disinfection. Chloramine disinfectant, which is formed
from free chlorine and ammonia, is normally used to
maintain a disinfectant residual in
the City’s distribution system. During this temporary change, free
chlorine – without ammonia – will
be used as a disinfectant. At the
end of the temporary switch, the
process will be switched back to
chloramines.
Customers may notice an
unusual chlorine taste or odor in
their tap water during this period.
These temporary conditions will
not cause adverse health effects.
Your water will remain safe for
drinking and other normal uses. Free chlorine is a
stronger disinfectant than chloramines.
“Changing to free chlorine periodically provides
additional protection against microorganism contamination and helps ensure that the water you receive
remains safe,” said Public Works & Utilities Director
Ralph Reigelsperger.
Customers who use kidney dialysis devices should
be aware that their water may contain chlorine,
City of Melbourne Public Works & Utilities Department
ammonia, or a mixture of the two during this period. Other specialized users of water such as fish
owners, hospitals, blood/dialysis clinics, or users of
home dialysis equipment may need to take action to
maintain appropriate water quality during the temporary disinfectant switch. For
further information regarding
the temporary switch in disinfectant, please visit the City’s
website at www.
melbourneflorida.org
There is no need to boil
your water, purchase specific
water filtration devices, or
purchase bottled water. However, if you are sensitive to
the taste or smell of chlorine,
you can withdraw tap water
into a container, place it in
your refrigerator and allow it to sit a few hours. This
will allow much of the chlorine to leave the water.
The water production facilities will resume adding
ammonia to the chlorination process on Monday,
March 16, 2015, with the system returning to typical
conditions by Friday, March 20, 2015.
Please call the City of Melbourne at 321-255-4622
if you need further information on this temporary
change in the treatment process.
Two
Public Works & Utilities Connection
January 2015
Wastewater Treatment Operational Summary and Reuse Statistics
December 2014 Data
D.B. Lee Water Reclamation Facility
Grant St. Water Reclamation Facility
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
Treated this month: 127.93 MG
Treated daily: 4.13 MGD
Reuse production — total monthly flow: 47.69 MG
Reuse average daily flow: 1.54 MGD
Reuse number of days run: 31
Plant efficiency, BOD removal: 99.31%
Committed capacity: 0.1732 MGD
Capacity available for development: 2.6918 MGD
(Based on 12-month average daily flow)
♦ Rainfall: 2.86 inches over 10 days
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
Treated this month: 99.29 MG
Treated daily: 3.20 MGD
Reuse production — total monthly flow: 11.22 MG
Reuse average daily flow: 0.36 MGD
Reuse number of days run: 14
Plant efficiency, BOD removal: 98.54%
Committed capacity: 0.6158 MGD
Capacity available for development: 1.2983 MGD
(Based on 12-month average daily flow)
♦ Rainfall: 2.30 inches over 8 days
A total of 58.91 million gallons of reclaimed water was produced during December, representing 26% of total plant flows.
Land purchase will lead to south beaches water improvements
south beaches area to boost
pressure and provide additional water storage,” said
Utilities Engineer Jennifer
Spagnoli. “The 2010 water
distribution master plan also
identified a need by year
2020.”
The City recently closed
on a deal to purchase a parcel of land that will eventually lead to increased water
pressure and storage capacity in the south beaches
area and could eventually
aid with expanding the water
distribution system.
To meet that goal, a new
capital improvement project
will be developed to design
and then build the booster
station.
The property purchased
was a 3.71 acre undeveloped parcel along SR A1A
in unincorporated Brevard
The recently-purchased property is within the red border.
County. The land sits just
The negotiated price
east of the county’s South
was $685,000 —midway
Beaches Wastewater Treatment Facility and the City’s
between two appraisals. There were also associated
existing chlorine and ammonia booster station.
costs for the boundary survey, an environmental site
assessment, closing costs, title search and related
“A 2001 water distribution master plan identified the
expenses.
need for a future potable water booster station in the
Streets and Stormwater Management Monthly Summary
December 2014 Data
Street Sweeper
♦♦ Total miles swept: 418
Canal and Ditch Maintenance:
Aquatic Spraying
♦♦ Acres treated through aquatic spraying: 50.45
Inlet Maintenance
♦♦ Storm inlets cleaned: 22
♦♦ Storm inlets repaired: 3
♦♦ Cubic yards of material removed from drains: 1.5
Storm Drain Pipe Repair & Maintenance
♦♦ Feet of storm drain pipe repaired: 9
City of Melbourne Public Works & Utilities Department
♦♦ Feet of storm drain pipe cleaned: 1,284
♦♦ Materials removed from pipe cleaning (cubic yards): 19
Concrete Work
♦♦ Concrete repairs: 10
♦♦ Cubic yards of concrete used: 28.5
Asphalt Work
♦♦ Asphalt repairs made: 56
♦♦ Tons of asphalt used: 23.75
Water Usage
♦♦ Vac truck & yard usage (gallons): 33,800
Three
Public Works & Utilities Connection
January 2015
Schools earn award for environmental care and ownership
In recognition of their environmen- Eau Gallie High School include
automatic shut-off faucets; timtal stewardship efforts, Eau Gallie
ers on lights for shut-offs; fertilizer
High School and Stone Magnet
use on the football field but not on
Middle School have been recogthe rest of the property; establishnized by the City of Melbourne’s
ment of butterfly, vegetable and
Environmental Community Outflower gardens, maintained by the
reach Division as ECO Schools
students; oyster
– an acronym for Enmats made by the
vironmental Care and
students; recycling
Ownership. During
bins in all the classthe 2014/2015 school
rooms; student-made
year, these schools
3D sculptures using
have been underrecycled material that
taking numerous
won Best of Show at
steps to conserve
last year’s Melbourne
resources inside the
Oyster mat made by EGHS
Art Festival (in which
school and on school students.
they will be competgrounds. These acing again this year); and use of
tivities include strong water and energy conservation measures, active recycled bottles to create “ecosystems in a bottle.”
recycling programs and hands-on
“Eau Gallie High takes conservaenvironmental stewardship activities
tion very seriously with both stuwith students.
dents and staff working year after
Some stand-out examples from
Capital Project Status
Water Projects
Under Construction:
■■ Babcock Street waterline
relocation from Melbourne
Avenue to Fee Avenue,
$505,738
■■ RO concentrate transfer
pumps and dissolved oxygen
station, $852,000
Under Design or
Bid Process:
■■ 10” water line replacement
under Crane Creek
■■ North booster station discharge main
■■ RO booster station VFD
conversion
■■ 10” water main extension
from McGraw Avenue to The
Willows Drive
year to constantly improve on our
environmental stewardship,” said
Science Teacher Emily Torlak of her
school’s environmental achievements.
Examples from Stone Magnet
Middle School include student litter
patrols, encouraging students to
recycle and to pick up litter in the
morning announcements, field trips
to the Indian River Lagoon for all
7th grade science students, and
distribution of recycled materials to
the art and science teachers for use
in their labs.
“Stone Magnet has a team, ranging from students to parents, teachers and support staff, that make a
concerted effort to be diligent with
our environmental efforts on campus,” said Assistant Principal Janee
Campbell. “There is no ‘I’ in team,
therefore, together we all make a
difference.”
■■ Water treatment plant
chemical storage tanks
■■ Lift Station #65 replacement
Under Construction:
■■ Apollo Blvd. extension from
Sarno Rd. to Eau Gallie Blvd.
— utility relocation associated
with water, wastewater and
reclaimed water, $2,154,448
Under Design or
Bid Process:
■■ D.B. Lee WRF expansion
and energy efficiency improvements
■■ 20” reuse main under the
Eau Gallie River
Under Construction:
■■ Babcock Street Phase
III roadway improvements,
$1,886,822
■■ Kent Drive and Parkway
Drive intersection and drainage improvements, $394,994
Under Design or
Bid Process:
■■ South Sarno Road drainage improvements
Wastewater Projects
Streets & Stormwater
Projects
For more information about this report, please contact the
Melbourne Environmental Community Outreach Division at (321) 608-5080
or send an e-mail to [email protected]
City of Melbourne Public Works & Utilities Department
www.melbourneflorida.org
Four