Palm Coast Recognizes Water Quality Month with Focus on the Future

The City of Palm Coast is proud to recognize August as National Water Quality Month. Since its inception by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2005, National Water Quality Month has centered around creating awareness of the importance of water conservation so that we can all have access to safe, clean drinking water for generations to come.

Considering the growth and evolution of our city, the Palm Coast Utility Department is focused on fulfilling this mission by providing creative solutions to the challenges that come with aging infrastructure. Most recently, the department has committed to developing a pilot study to be conducted in November of this year to assess potential treatment process enhancement options at Water Treatment Plant #1. Currently, the plant utilizes lime softening treatment, an effective but dated technology. The study will help determine the most reasonable means of upgrading the facility. 

“During Water Quality Month, and throughout the year, our goal at our water treatment plants is to deliver the highest quality product possible to our residents in a cost-effective manner that doesn’t sacrifice efficacy,” said Palm Coast Utility Department Director Amanda Rees. “We are at a unique point in time when we are looking at growth and aging infrastructure and working to mitigate challenges that come with those factors by developing creative solutions to continue to meet our goals of best serving our residents.”

In addition to the upcoming study, the department is also working to mitigate capacity challenges cost-effectively. A recently completed project saw an interconnect installed between Water Treatment Plant #3 and Water Treatment Plant #1, helping to increase output capacity for residents who reside near the latter facility.

“When much of our original infrastructure was constructed some 50 years ago, it would have been impossible to have foresight as to what technology would be available to us today and what kind of solutions that technology could provide,” said Mayor David Alfin. “Our dedicated professionals in our Utility Department are proactively working to find ways to give our old bones new life so that we can be ahead of the curve of any future challenges.”

Last month, the City of Palm Coast also released its latest Water Quality Report for 2023, a comprehensive outline that is required by the EPA annually. This report can be viewed at https://www.palmcoast.gov/utility/wqr

For updates, photos, and timelines on all Utility projects and all projects taking place in the City of Palm Coast, visit https://www.palmcoast.gov/pcprogress

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