To Our Valued Customers,

Newsletter Volume 1
June 2009

This letter is being sent to you as an update on District projects that are currently in progress and projects that are slated for next year.
Irrigation:
The wetland monitoring report has been completed by the environmental firm, R. L. Weigt, and ready to be submitted to South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). This will allow  the district to use the shallow wells to augment the supply of irrigation water for usage in the irrigation distribution system. The usage of these wells, which is permitted by SFWMD, will produce 1.0 million gallons per day of additional supply.
The Magnolia Lakes pump station design has been completed and is in the process of being permitted through the City of Port St. Lucie and SFWMD. Construction will begin shortly after October 1st 2009. Once this pump station has been completed, it will act as a back-up system when other pump stations are down for maintenance and also provide better pressure management within the distribution system. It will also serve as a storm water discharge pump to lower lake levels within the Cascades and Magnolia Lakes basins prior to a storm event.
The rainy season is upon us! The irrigation schedule will remain at one day a week until all storm water retention ponds are back to their normal elevation.
Once the retention ponds are back to normal elevation the schedule will return to two days a week. Remember all time clocks should be set to your designated time slot per your sticker that is mounted on your clock. If you do not have a sticker or are unsure of your time slot please contact the District office.
REMINDER: Please leave your time clocks set for the three days a week that you are  scheduled for. The District more than likely will never go back to three days a week; however, there are times when the District may use the distribution system to get rid of reuse water to make additional storage at the IQ pond located here at the plant.
Storm Water:
The District Manager and staff have been working diligently to get the control gate modification project designed and permitted. This project once completed will allow staff to move water off site at a much faster discharge rate in a shorter period of time, allowing for more storage prior to a storm event. All gates will be fully automated and operated from one secure and hardened building located at the water plant. Staff is attempting to receive grant funding from FEMA to offset the costs of this project.

REMINDER:	The District would like to remind all Homeowners!
With the exception of Lake Charles, fishing and boating is not allowed in District owned retention ponds. Fish are stocked within the ponds for purposes of biological control of midge flies and other pests.
Wastewater Treatment Plant:
One of the capital improvement projects at the wastewater plant that is currently underway is the rehabilitation of the Surge Tank. This project includes the removal of sand and grit from the tank and adding a new stainless steel air header and diffuser system. This project upon completion will provide improved volume in the tank and provide additional air to the primary treatment process. The project is scheduled to be complete by the end of June.
A new odor control unit will be installed by the end of August.
The wastewater plant is also in the process of upgrading the Districts’ SCADA (System Control and Data Acquisition) system which will provide additional automation and remote monitoring.
The District is installing a Radio Telemetry System at all 54 lift stations which will report alarm conditions to the SCADA system. Currently ten stations have been completed and the remaining stations will be complete by March of 2010.

Water Treament Plant:
One of the capital improvement projects at the water plant is to increase the potable water holding capacity by 2.0 million gallons and build an additional 200,000 gallon concentrate tank. This project will be bid in early July.
Engineers are currently evaluating the odor control system at the water treatment plant to increase the removal of hydrogen sulfide.
An additional back up generator to the high service pumps which supply potable water through the distribution system to your home or business will be installed in early October. This will assure un-interrupted delivery of drinking water should the plant lose power.
The District is evaluating the replacement of a 4,000 gallon underground diesel fuel tank with an above ground 12,000 gallon tank to provide additional capacity during emergency conditions.
The District performs 21 field tests of water each month to insure the stringent requirements of the State Department of Environmental Protection Agency are met or exceeded. The District recently won 2nd place in a water testing contest with nine agencies participating. Concerns about the taste of tap water are usually associated with the chlorine content which is mandated. Use of an activated charcoal filter can remove that taste and provide you with a very pleasant tasting drinking water.
If you have any question please go to www.myfloridalegal.com which refers to “Using False Water Tests” to sell products. Please be aware that companies are in the area actively selling whole house filters.

If you have any questions, you may contact the District office at (772) 340-0220.

St. Lucie West Services District