Martin County Utilities is dedicated to protecting public health by providing safe drinking water in a cost effective manner. Our customers are our first priority. As demands on Southeast Florida’s limited water resources increase and EPA drinking water standards become more restrictive, these objectives are continually challenged. We are proud of our forward-thinking approach to providing a safe drinking water supply to our citizens.

Martin County Utilities operates two plants: the North County Water Treatment Plant in Jensen Beach and Tropical Farms Water Treatment Plant in the south. Both plants utilize two distinct underground sources of water, the shallower surficial aquifer and the deeper Floridan aquifer, each requiring different methods of treatment. By treating the more mineralized Floridan aquifer, considered an alternative water source, we conserve the shallow groundwater for future. Blending it with the surficial product water provides alkalinity and hardness and results in a stable finished product.

Our Tropical Farms plant is a 10 million gallon per day (MGD) facility that consists of 8 MGD of reverse osmosis (RO) treated brackish groundwater and 2 MGD of surficial groundwater that has been treated through an iron treatment facility (ITF). The product of the RO process is relatively free of desirable minerals, so ITF

Tropical Farms Water Treatment Plant

North Water Treatment Plant

product water is then blended to enhance the stability of the water. The blended water is degasified to strip out hydrogen sulfide gas, followed by pH and alkalinity adjustment. Adequate disinfection is then performed to retain an acceptable residual for safety throughout the system, and the finished water is transferred to storage and pumped to distribution.

Our North plant is an 8.8 MGD facility that consists of 5.5 MGD of RO treated brackish groundwater and

3.3 MGD of surficial water blend. The treatment process is very similar to Tropical Farms. Surficial groundwater is chlorinated and flows through multi-media filters. The RO permeate is degasified and chlorinated prior to mixing with the surficial blend water. Alkalinity and pH are then adjusted, disinfection is accomplished, and finally the

finished water is transferred to storage and distribution.

The sources of drinking water (both tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals, and in some cases radioactive material. Water can also pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or human activity.

In order to ensure that tap water is acceptable to drink, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk.

Lead Exposure

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is caused primarily by materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Martin County Utilities is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but

cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking.

If you are concerned about lead in your drinking water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead or by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1.800.426.4791.

Vulnerable Populations

Some people with special health concerns may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised persons such as those with cancer, those undergoing chemotherapy, those who have undergone organ transplants, those with HIV/AIDS

or other immune system disorders, some elderly and infant population can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and EPA guidelines regarding the appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are also available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1.800.426.4791.

Source Water Contamination

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by- products of industrial processes and petroleum production and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of mining activities and oil and gas production

Source Water Assessments

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) conducted its most recent assessment of our source water systems in 2020. The assessment was performed to provide information about any potential sources of contamination in the vicinity of our wells. For our system, all potential sources of contamination were assigned a low susceptibility score.

The threat of contamination is further mitigated by a well field protection ordinance and extensive water quality testing. Assessment results and more information are available on the FDEP Source Water Assessment and Protection Program website at https://fldep.dep.state.fl.us/swapp/ and can also be obtained from Martin County Utilities at 772.221.1434.

More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1.800.426.4791.

Martin County Utilities Water

Quality Monitoring

An important part of providing drinking water to our customers is monitoring its quality from the point it is first drawn from our wells to its final delivery to every home or business. Martin County Utilities water quality monitoring program includes chemical and microbiological sampling and analysis by our own Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Public Health certified laboratory and FDEP certified treatment plant operators.

Wellfields: The suitability of source water is evaluated prior to the construction of a production well. Well water is then regularly monitored for quality.

Treatment process: The processes are managed by licensed operators 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Process control testing and on-line analyzers provide continuous data.

Finished water: Monitoring and testing at the points-of- entry to the distribution system are an ongoing activity.

Distribution system: Monitoring of the water quality in the network of water mains comprising the distribution system is conducted monthly at 100+ sampling stations located throughout our service area.

AL

Action Level:

The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

LRAA

Locational Running Annual Average:

The average of sample analytical results for samples taken at a particular monitoring location during the previous four calendar quarters.

MCL

Maximum Contaminant Level:

The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

MCLG

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal:

The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

MRDL

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level:

The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

MRDLG

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal:

The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

ND

Non Detects:

This means “not detected” and indicates that the substance was not found by laboratory analysis.

PCi/L

Picocuries Per Liter:

A measure of the radioactivity in water.

PPB

Parts Per Billion:

This means one part by weight of analyte to 1 billion parts by weight of the water sample.

PPM

Parts Per Million:

This means one part by weight of analyte to 1 million parts by weight of the water sample.

PREVENTING

BACKFLOW

Martin County is committed to providing safe, reliable drinking water; however, safeguarding drinking water is everyone’s responsibility.

To protect against backflow contamination, the county has a cross connection control program that includes requirements for residential and commercial customers. Cross connections are any actual or potential connections between a drinking water system and any source containing non-potable water or any other substance from which backflow may occur. Improper plumbing and cross connections can allow backflow, contaminating your water and the county drinking water system.

Residents must ensure no conditions exist on their property that could contaminate their water supply. There are several ways to reduce the risk of contamination by backflow:

• Hoses – Never place the end of a hose where contaminants could siphon back into your drinking water. Examples include: a bathtub pool or spa, aquarium, laundry sink, bucket, or floor drain.
• Hose-end sprayers – Often used with house/deck washes and lawn fertilizers/ pesticides. Do not connect a sprayer to your hose without first installing hose- connection vacuum breakers on your home’s outdoor taps.
• Irrigation – Install an approved backflow prevention device on all underground lawn irrigation systems. Please contact your irrigation specialist to ensure a backflow preventer is in place and functional.
• Onsite wells/reclaimed water – Never connect any auxiliary water source into your plumbing system, either directly or indirectly.

WHAT’S ON TAP NOW AND FOR

THE FUTURE?

Martin County Utilities continues to expand water and wastewater services to existing residences and businesses within the utility’s service area. A water main extension project to serve properties along Indian River Drive is currently nearing completion. This project ensures enhanced drinking water quality and fire protection for residents.

Septic to sewer conversions have long been a priority of the Board of County Commissioners. Over the years, we have completed numerous projects to provide sewer service to over 4,400 properties formerly served by septic systems within the Martin County Utilities service area. Recently completed projects include force main installations in the neighborhoods of Indian River Drive, North Sewall’s Point, Tropical Farms, Magnolia Bluff, and Palm Lake Estates.

The current five year sewer plan will provide service availability to approximately 3,800 additional parcels. Vacuum or gravity sewer systems will be constructed in the larger neighborhoods and small diameter force main systems utilizing grinder stations will be installed in smaller neighborhoods. Additional details can be found at: www.martin.fl.us/SeptictoSewer.

Two additional Floridan aquifer wells are under construction to supply the existing Tropical Farms Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Plant. These 1,400-foot deep wells are an alternative to traditional surficial groundwater sources, providing increased sustainability of the Martin County Utilities source water supply. Minimizing the reliance on shallow groundwater prevents saltwater intrusion, lowered lake levels and loss of wetlands.