What's New with Water?

This log will provide updates and community impacts about our Water Works Projects.

Through its comprehensive Water Works program, the City of Winter Springs is making a significant investment in long-needed improvements to the City's water, wastewater, and reclaimed water systems. These repairs include work at the City's water plants to improve the drinking water's taste and smell. The City is also undertaking repairs at its two wastewater treatment plants, which are more than 50 years old and in poor condition resulting in frequent breakdowns and treatment problems. The repair work has been challenging because the plants must remain partially operational while being repaired. This has caused disruptions in treatment, service interruptions to customers, increased odors, and other construction issues. We make every effort to keep these issues to a minimum, recognizing that we must make the crucial repairs to modernize these essential services for customers. The City is ultimately moving towards financing, designing, and constructing state-of-the-art new wastewater facilities, which will meet the community's needs for years to come.

Week of 04/07/22:

Water Plant No. 1 Capacity and Chemical Improvements – Status – Complete 

The work has been completed at the water plant increasing capacity and improving chemical treatment.  This was a critical first step in improving the water taste and odor.  By completing this upgrade we have increased throughput capacity by 30% and optimized our chlorine injecting system realizing a 50% reduction in chlorine consumption.  The project was designed and overseen by Carollo Engineers and work completed by Sawcross Construction.  The picture shows the new header that was installed and connected to the water plant pumps.

Water Plant No. 1 Well Improvements – Status - Underway

Carollo Engineers has completed a comprehensive evaluation of the condition of the wells with CCTV inspection and water testing.  They have designed a project to increase capacity to wells in order to improve flow through the plant. The project will allow the City to maximize withdrawal of the highest quality groundwater, optimize treatment efficiency and increase overall wellfield reliability.  The project is scheduled to be completed in May 2022.

The project will include fitting two of the four groundwater wells supplying Water Plant  No. 1 with larger capacity pumps, high thrust motors, and new electrical switchgear.  Additionally, pump discharge head and stuffing box assemblies will be refurbished. 

Water Plant No. 2 Reliability - Underway

This project is scheduled to be completed in July 2022.  The contractor, ESI has placed the new standby generator is completing installation of a new Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) controller, generator Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS), associated conduit, and wiring.  Once completed, Water Plant 2 will be fully capable of operating independent of the commercial power grid at full capacity during electrical outages. The picture below shows the standby generator placed in its final location on the newly constructed generator pad.

Priority Repairs - Underway

The City’s Wastewater Treatment Facilities are more than 50 years old, and are tedious and labor intensive to operate requiring constant monitoring and manual adjustments operational adjustments to meet treatment standards.  Because of the structural and mechanical issues, there is an inherent risk associated with any maintenance, repair and construction activities.  Progress has been steady.  With much of the structural work completed at the East Wastewater Treatment Plant, focus will soon shift to refurbishing the clarifier assembly, upgrading primary air supply piping, and basin aerators. The photo below shows refurbished influent troughs, and curtain wall reinforcement.

The photo below shows a large steel panel shortly after being welded in place to replace a failing panel prior to completing surface preparation and coating.

Steady progress is also being made at the West Wastewater Treatment Plant.  Having to contend with infrastructure in excess of 50 years old, along with structural, and mechanical issues while maintaining plant operations can be complicated and risky.  Earlier this week while completing concrete core drilling operations on the Traveling Filter Bridge Complex, a temporary cofferdam structure designed and installed to hold back fully clarified water failed.  While dislodging the concrete core from the structure, force exerted on the 300 lbs. concrete core during the removal process transferred to the cofferdam causing the cofferdam to fail.  As a result, fully clarified water escaped from the structure.  Within eight minutes of the cofferdam failure, operations personnel had re-routed flow, contained all effluent to the plant, and began recovering the clarified water.  With plant operations restored, and core drilling complete, work continued and 20 inch diameter piping was installed, connecting a highly efficient disc filter to the plants piping network.  The disc filter will provide efficient and effective filtration, and bolster plant reliability throughout the construction process.  The photo below shows the disc filter unit.

The photo below shows the disc filter unit, associated piping, and isolation valves being installed.

Building New Wastewater Plants

The City finished preliminary engineering of new wastewater plants using two different engineering firms – Kimley-Horn and Carollo.  Both are nationwide engineering firms with extensive experience in wastewater treatment.

• Wastewater Master Plan - Kimley-Horn has completed a comprehensive plan after evaluating the entire wastewater system, to include all, collection, transmission, conveyance, and treatment infrastructure.  This plan helps the City forecast wastewater needs for the next 20 years.  This document is a critical step to the City obtaining State financing for the project.  The plan will be discussed during the public hearing in April 2022. 

• Conceptual Design Reports - Carollo Engineers has evaluated the wastewater plant sites and provided the City with the different options for treating the waste.  This includes focusing on the desired water quality, reliability, reducing odors and noise from the plants.  Their work, now complete will be part of the Wastewater Master Plan.  Updates on the process of this study were made at the December 2021, February 2022, and March 2022 Commission meetings.  Final recommendations were presented to the Commission in March 2022, and both the East and West Wastewater Treatment Plant Conceptual Design Reports will be discussed during the public hearing in April 2022.

Expanding Reuse System

The City was awarded a St Johns River Water Management District grant providing funds to help expand the reuse system along State Road 434.  Kimley-Horn has finalized the design.  The City has solicited request for proposals, and expects to move to award in May 2022. This project will shift in excess of 300 homes, and certain park areas from potable irrigation water to reuse irrigation water, reducing the demand on our ground water source by more than 50 million gallons per year.

Week of 03/09/22:

Duke Power Outage

Lift Station 5E Update:

On Tuesday March 8th, 2022 a Duke Energy Transformer located in the utility easement failed resulting in a power outage.  This outage affected lift station 5E located along Winter Springs Blvd.

When the Duke Energy transformer failed, the control panel at Lift Station 5E experienced a power surge damaging the battery backup supplying the redundant telemetry system. 

With no backup power, the system did not detect the loss of commercial power to signal remote alarm notifications or the emergency generator startup sequence.

Duke Energy technicians notified the city of a potential sanitary sewer overflow, and wastewater repair crews were dispatched immediately.  Upon arrival, City and Veolia wastewater repair crews coordinated with Duke Energy technicians, assessed the situation and immediately started the emergency generator manually to restore lift station operations, replaced the damaged backup battery, vacuumed and recovered the water spill, and disinfected the area.

Later that same evening, there was another power outage in the same area.  Having replaced the backup battery unit earlier that day, wastewater repair crews received alarm notifications signaling a loss of commercial power, and responded to ensure the lift station was operating. 

As a precautionary measure, an emergency pump has been temporarily deployed to this location.

Week of 01/18/22:

Water Plant No 1 Capacity and Chemical Improvements – Status – Complete 

The work has been completed at the water plant increasing capacity and improving chemical treatment.  This was a critical first step in improving the water taste and odor.  By completing this upgrade we have increased throughput capacity by 30% and optimized our chlorine injecting system realizing a 30% reduction in chlorine consumption.  The project was designed and overseen by Carollo Engineers and work completed by Sawcross Construction.  The picture shows the new header that was installed and connected to the water plant pumps.

Water Plant No 1 Well Improvements – Status - Underway 

Carollo Engineers has been evaluating the condition of the wells with CCTV inspection and water testing.  They are now designing a project to increase capacity to wells in order to improve flow through the plant.  

Water Plant No 2 Reliability 

The city has received the standby generator.  The contractor ESI has been provided a notice to proceed. Parts and equipment have been procured and ESI will fully mobilize and begin work upon delivery.  They are experiencing the same issues as everyone else with getting the appropriate parts to complete the project.  Like everything from toilet paper to pet food there is a long delay in receiving parts.

Priority Repairs Underway

The City declared an emergency in September because of structural issues at the one of the two basins at the East plant.  Much of this is related to the fact the plants are 50 years old. This means half the wastewater plant is off line making treatment more complicated and difficult.  The damaged basin has been drained and cleaned by Synagro, a waste recycling contractor.  The basin has been inspected by a structural engineer who identified required improvements.  The contractor hired for the job SGS is working on those improvements now.  The photo shows the rust and damage to the East wastewater tank basin.  

This photo below shows the rags which have clogged the pipes and made treatment diffucult.  Please consider what you flush down the toilet.  The wipes and rages are a major problem for the sewer system and cause spills and overflow when pipes get plugged.

The West Wastewater plant in the last week has experienced a similar structural failure.  One of the treatment basins had a sweep arm collapse requiring it to be removed.  This reduces the ability to treat water.  The City is preparing to renovate the basin in the next few weeks.  Improvements in the plant will include structural repairs, adding a new screen, replacing piping within the plant, adding filters and tanks.  The work is being done by SGS Construction.

Building New Wastewater Plants

The City has begun preliminary engineering of new wastewater plants using two different engineering firms – Kimley-Horn and Carollo.  Both are nationwide engineering firms with extensive experience in wastewater treatment.

• Facilities Plan - Kimley-Horn is finalizing a Facilities Plan which is a state required document that helps the City plan for the wastewater needs for the next 20 years.  This document is critical to the City obtaining State financing for the project which is expected to cost $50 to $60 million dollars.  The plan will be discussed during the public hearing in March.

• Conceptual Design - Carollo Engineers is reviewing the wastewater plant sites and providing the City with the different options for treating the waste.  This includes focusing on the desired water quality, reliability, reducing odors and noise from the plants.  Their work is expected early next year and will be part of the Facilities Plan being developed.  Updates on the process of this study were made at the December meeting.  The final recommendations will be presented to the Commission in March.

Expanding Reuse System

The city was awarded a St Johns River Water Management District grant last year.  This would provide funds to help expand the reuse system along Rt 434.  Kimley-Horn is finalizing the design of the project.  This project is expected to move in excess of 300 homes from potable water to reuse water, reducing the demand on our ground water source.

Week of 10/4/21:

Water System Repairs Underway

Water Plant No. 1 - The majority of work has been completed at the water plant increasing capacity and improving chemical treatment.  Sawcross Construction, has started on the final painting, cleanup, and equipment testing.  This project is being overseen and designed by Carollo Engineers. The picture below shows the new header that was installed and connected to the water plant pumps.  Join the Winter Springs Police Department and Jack and Sally on Oct. 22 at Ghoulishly Good Time! Hang with WSPD, eat popcorn, and enjoy a viewing of The Nightmare Before Christmas!

Water Plant No. 2  - The city has received the standby generator. It is shown in the picture being unloaded. The black tank below the generator provides seven days of fuel. The contractor ESI has been provided an initial notice to proceed and will begin work shortly. The contract includes installing the generator and new electrical equipment inside the water plant. The work was designed and is being overseen by Kimley-Horn Engineering and Bailey Engineering.  

Wastewater System Repairs Underway

East Wastewater Plant Emergency Repairs -  At the September 13 Commission meeting, an emergency was declared by the City regarding the condition of the wastewater plant.  The interior walls have structural problems.  Flow is being moved from that tank to another at the plant, allowing the tank to drain.SGS Construction will repair the metal structure, install new fine screens, and a new aeration system following the drain. The work is expected to take three+ months.  

The picture below shows the age-related problems at the plant. 

West Wastewater Plant Priority Repairs - Out of the two basins, one basin in the plant has been repaired. In addition, SGS Construction installed a new screen, replaced a portion of the airline, and rebuilt the filters. The contractors are working on repairs to valves within the plant.  

New Wastewater Plants - The City has begun preliminary engineering of new wastewater plants with Carollo, a nationwide engineering firm.  The City initiated the planning process for replacing the wastewater plants last year with the development of a master plan to identify options for replacing the plants. The City is now moving forward with discussing financing.  Just as with the badly-needed repairs this year, the construction of the new wastewater plants must occur while the old plants continue to operate. The repairs being made currently at the plants are meant to keep the plants running while the new plants are built.  The City aims to create modern, state-of-the-art plants that control odor, control noise, and produce superior water quality.  This wastewater plant improvement project will also include improvements to parts of the sewer collection system, reuse system pipes and storage ponds, and some older sewer lift stations.  

Week of 9/20/21:

Water System Repairs Underway 

Water Plant No. 1 Improvements – The majority of work has been completed at the water plant increasing capacity and improving chemical treatment. Last week saw the completion of the last major pipe installation by Sawcross Construction. This project was designed and is being overseen by Carollo Engineers. The picture shows the new header being readied to connect to the water plant pumps.  

Water Plant No. 2 Reliability - The city has received the standby generator. It is shown in the picture being unloaded. The black tank below the generator provides seven days of fuel. The contractor ESI has been provided an initial notice to proceed and will begin work shortly. The contract includes installing the generator and new electrical equipment inside the water plant. The work was designed and is being overseen by Kimley-Horn Engineering and Bailey Engineering.  

Wastewater System Repairs Underway 

The city is also undertaking repairs at its two wastewater plants, which are both more than 50 years old and in poor condition resulting in frequent breakdowns and treatment problems. 

The repair work has been challenging because incoming sewage must still be treated while the plant is being repaired. This has caused disruptions in treatment, service interruptions to customers, increased odors, and other issues during construction. Every effort has been made to keep these issues to a minimum, recognizing that these crucial repairs must be made in order to modernize these essential services for customers. The city is ultimately moving toward the financing, design, and construction of new state-of-the-art wastewater facilities, which will meet the community’s needs for years to come.

East Wastewater Plant Emergency Repairs – As discussed in the September 13 Commission meeting, an emergency has been declared by the City regarding the condition of the wastewater plant. The interior walls have structural problems. Flow is being moved from that tank to another at the plant which will allow the tank to be drained. Repair of the metal, structure, and aeration system will then be completed. The work is expected to take 3 months. The work will be completed by SGS Construction.  

West Wastewater Plant Priority Repairs - One of the two basins in the plant has been repaired/renovated. In addition, a new screen has been installed, a portion of the airline replaced and the filters rebuilt. The contractors are working on repairs to valves within the plant. The work is being done by SGS Construction.  

Building New Wastewater Plants – The City has begun preliminary engineering of new wastewater plants with Carollo, a nationwide engineering firm. The city initiated the planning process for replacing the wastewater plants last year with the development of a master plan to identify options for replacing the plants. The city is now moving forward with exploring financing. Just as with the badly-needed repairs this year, the construction of the new wastewater plants must occur while the old plants continue to operate. The repairs being made now at the plants are meant to keep the plants running while the new plants are built.  

The City's goal is to create modern, state-of-the-art plants that control odor, control noise, and produce superior water quality. This wastewater plant improvement project is also going to include improvements to parts of the sewer collection system, reuse system pipes and storage ponds, as well as some older sewer lift stations.  

Week of 9/14/21:

NEW SEWER PLANTS

Project Status: Underway 

Project Cost Estimate: $50 Million 

The two City sewer plants are 50 years old and showing their age. The plants have been experiencing frequent breakdowns and have become unreliable. Replacing the plants is a complex process that requires planning, financing, design and construction. This will be one of the most expensive projects the City will undertake and needs to be well thought out and organized. 

The City will be applying for available grants and low-interest loans for the $50 million dollar or more in project cost. The City has hired Kimley-Horn Engineers to prepare the plan required to obtain state public input. Carollo Engineers has been hired and is now working on the preliminary design plants for the plants. This information will help decide the type of plant, design, construction technique and if a rate study is needed. 

IRRIGATION WATER SYSTEM EXPANSION

Project Status: Underway 

Project Cost Estimate: $1 Million 

The City has received a grant from the St. Johns River Water Management District to expand the reuse system to serve the Tuskawilla Crossing neighborhood. The developer has installed a separate landscape watering system that needs to be connected to the irrigation water system. This will save the potable water currently used. The City has a permit that restricts how much water can be pulled from the ground; this project will maintain that water level. Kimley-Horn Engineers is working on the design of the project now. Construction is expected in 2022.

SEWER PLANT PRIORITY REPAIRS 

Project Status: Under Construction 

Project Cost Estimate: $4 Million 

The City has two wastewater plants, and both are 50 years old and in need of repair. The work at the plants includes cleaning the debris out of the plants, installing screens, making metal repairs, and installing new aeration equipment used in the treatment process. Synagro is a specialty contractor involved in cleaning plants. SGS Construction is doing the repair work on the plants. The repair work requires half of the equipment in the plant to be turned off, which complicates sewer treatment. 

These repairs are being done to keep the sewer plants operating while new plants are being designed, financed, and built.

WATER TREATMENT PLANT 1

Project Status: Under Construction 

Project Cost Estimate: $1.5 Million 

Water plant No. 1 is located on the east side of town and provides half the City's water. Carollo Engineers has carried out several studies to improve the taste and odor generated by naturally occurring hydrogen sulfide in the groundwater. The first of several projects are underway now by Sawcross Construction who is enlarging pipes at the plant allowing more water to be pumped and change the location of chemical addition. Additionally, the wells are being CCTV inspected. 

WATER TREATMENT PLANT 2

Project Status: Under Construction 

Cost Estimate: $0.4 Million 

Kimley-Horn Engineers and Bailey Engineering have reviewed the facility and designed a standby generator. This will assure more reliable service during the loss of power in a hurricane or other event. The generator has been delivered, and the contractors expect to start work on its installation this fall.