Brian Barton
Water pollution is a pressing issue in Palm Beach County, Florida, with concerns ranging from coastal beach pollution to contaminated drinking water. The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County plays a pivotal role in addressing these issues by routinely collecting samples for microbiological analysis on various coastal beaches. They also implement the Healthy Beaches Program, which includes monitoring for enteric bacteria that can cause health issues for swimmers. Additionally, the County's Water Utilities department has complied with health-based drinking water standards, although pollutants like chlorate, chromium, and nitrite remain a concern. The City of West Palm Beach has a Stormwater Operations & Canals Maintenance division tasked with capturing drainage runoff, removing trash and pollutants, and responding to illicit discharges. Ultimately, ensuring clean water in Palm Beach County involves the collective efforts of multiple divisions and agencies working together to protect the health and safety of residents and visitors.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Water sampling and analysis | The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County collects samples for microbiological analysis on different coastal beach locations on a routine basis. |
| Water quality standards | The current standard is a Single Sample Maximum (SSM) of 104 Colony Forming Units (CFU) of Enterococci bacteria per 100 milliliters (mL) of seawater. |
| Water quality criteria | The Florida Department of Health (DOH) has adopted new water quality criteria, reflecting the 2012 Recreational Water Quality Criteria (RWQ criteria) and recommendations from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). |
| Water pollution concerns | Nitrite, a fertilizer chemical, urban runoff, and industrial pollution are some of the sources of water pollution in Palm Beach County. |
| Water treatment | The City of West Palm Beach has a wastewater treatment plant that can process 70 million gallons of wastewater per day, removing contaminants and producing effluent and bio-solids. |
| Water distribution | The Water Distribution division is responsible for maintaining water mains, valves, and fire hydrants, as well as providing customer service for residential and commercial water connections and billing. |
| Water quality monitoring | The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system automatically monitors water quality, generates reports, and provides process information for quality control. |
| Environmental management | The Department maintains an Environmental Management System (EMS) to reduce environmental impacts by continually improving daily operations. |
| Stormwater management | The Stormwater Operations & Canals Maintenance division manages drainage runoff, cleans and inspects stormwater drains, and responds to illicit discharges into waterways. |
| Public utilities | The Central Operations Dispatch provides a 24-hour emergency response to Public Utilities, ensuring citizen concerns are directed to the right person. |
What You'll Learn
The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County
The department's Beach Water Sampling program plays a crucial role in maintaining water quality. They have implemented the Single Sample Maximum (SSM) standard, which is set at 104 Colony Forming Units (CFU) of Enterococci bacteria per 100 millilitres (mL) of seawater. This standard ensures that the water is safe for recreational use and helps prevent potential health risks associated with high bacterial counts.
In addition to its beach water quality efforts, the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County also addresses other water-related concerns. They provide information on health effects related to Red Tide through their Aquatic Toxins program and offer resources for blue-green algae monitoring through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's algal bloom response website. The department also maintains an Environmental Management System (EMS) to minimise environmental impacts by continually improving its daily operations.
Furthermore, the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County collaborates with other local organisations, such as the City of West Palm Beach, to ensure safe and clean water for its residents. The City of West Palm Beach operates a separate storm sewer system (MS4), where stormwater and wastewater are collected separately. The Stormwater Operations & Canals Maintenance division is responsible for capturing drainage runoff, cleaning and inspecting stormwater drains, removing trash and pollutants, and responding to illicit discharges into waterways. Additionally, the city's Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system provides automated control and monitoring of water quality, generating reports and ensuring tighter quality control.
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The Public Beach Water Program
The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts. The department has adopted new water quality criteria for its Healthy Beaches Program, reflecting the most current recommendations and requirements from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). These criteria are designed to inform Florida residents and visitors when bacterial counts may pose an increased risk for gastrointestinal illness, allowing them to take the necessary precautions.
In addition to the Public Beach Water Program, the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County also provides information on other water quality issues. For example, they direct residents to the Aquatic Toxins program website for details on the health effects related to Red Tide. Similarly, for the latest testing results for Red Tide, residents are referred to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Website. Furthermore, the department's website provides a link to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's algal bloom response website for blue-green algae monitoring.
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The Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Beach Water Sampling
The FDEP is committed to ensuring safe and clean beach water for residents and visitors in Palm Beach County. They routinely collect samples from various coastal locations for microbiological analysis. This includes monitoring the presence of enteric bacteria, such as enterococci, which can indicate faecal pollution from sources like stormwater runoff, pets, wildlife, and human sewage. By regularly testing the water quality, the FDEP can identify any potential health risks and take necessary actions to protect public health.
Water Quality Standards and Criteria
The department has adopted the latest water quality criteria, in line with the 2012 Recreational Water Quality Criteria (RWQ criteria) recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). These criteria set the standard for acceptable levels of bacteria and other contaminants in marine water. By adhering to these standards, the FDEP aims to protect the health of individuals who may come into contact with recreational waters.
Algal Bloom Response
Palm Beach County, like many coastal areas, can experience algal blooms, particularly from blue-green algae. The FDEP has a dedicated algal bloom response website that provides information and updates on this issue. They work closely with other agencies to monitor and address these blooms, which can have negative environmental and health impacts.
Environmental Management System
The FDEP maintains an Environmental Management System (EMS) to minimize the environmental impact of daily operations in Palm Beach County. This system involves continually improving processes to reduce pollution and conserve natural resources. The FDEP also oversees the Watershed Management division, which is tasked with protecting and managing the Grassy Waters Preserve, the main source of drinking water for the city.
Public Utilities and Water Treatment
The FDEP works in collaboration with local government and public utilities in Palm Beach County to ensure safe and clean drinking water. This includes overseeing the treatment and disposal of wastewater, as well as monitoring stormwater runoff to prevent pollution. The Industrial Pretreatment compliance specialists, for example, administer the National Pretreatment Program to protect the East Central Regional Water Reclamation Facility (ECR) from industrial pollutants.
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Palm Beach County Water Utilities
The utility serves the City of West Palm Beach, which has a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). This means stormwater and wastewater are collected and managed separately. The Stormwater Operations & Canals Maintenance division is responsible for capturing and conveying drainage runoff, cleaning and inspecting stormwater drains to remove trash and pollutants, and responding to illicit discharges.
The city's water treatment plant is permitted to process 70 million gallons of wastewater per day. The treatment process involves using a series of aerobic digestion basins to remove contaminants. The two by-products of this process are effluent, which is chemically and micro-biologically treated water, and bio-solids, the nutrient-rich organic materials leftover. A portion of the effluent is further treated to provide reclaim water services, while the rest is disposed of through deep well injection.
To ensure the quality and safety of the water, the utility utilizes a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. This computerized control system automates various functions, including starting and stopping pumps, opening and closing valves, monitoring water quality, and generating reports. The SCADA system provides tighter quality control than previous methods. Additionally, the utility maintains an Environmental Management System (EMS) to minimize environmental impacts by continually improving its daily operations.
The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County also plays a role in water quality. They routinely collect samples from various coastal beach locations for microbiological analysis. This program is funded and authorized by the State Healthy Beaches Program, which includes all 34 of Florida's coastal counties. The presence of enteric bacteria, such as enterococci, can indicate fecal pollution from sources like stormwater runoff, pets, wildlife, and human sewage. High concentrations of these bacteria in recreational waters can pose health risks, and the Department works to keep residents and visitors informed of any potential dangers.
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The Watershed Management division
The division's work is supported by the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, a computerized control system that can automatically start and stop pumps, open and close valves, display temperatures and pressures, monitor water quality, and generate reports, among other tasks. The SCADA system provides the Watershed Management division with thousands of bits of control data, allowing for tighter quality control than was previously available.
In addition to the SCADA system and EMS, the Watershed Management division is supported by a network of laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art analytical equipment that provides accurate results based on EPA-approved methods. Together, these systems and resources enable the Watershed Management division to effectively manage the city's watershed and protect its main source of drinking water.
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Frequently asked questions
The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County is responsible for collecting samples for microbiological analysis on different coastal beach locations. For specific concerns, you can call the Public Beach Water Program at 850-245-4240. For information on other water quality issues, you can visit the Department of Health's Aquatic Toxins program website or the Florida Department of Environmental Protection algal bloom response website.
According to the EWG Tap Water Database, sources of water pollution in Palm Beach County include industrial pollution, natural occurrences in mineral deposits and groundwater, urban runoff, and fertilizer applied to agricultural lands.
The City of West Palm Beach has implemented several measures to monitor and address water pollution. This includes the use of state-of-the-art laboratories, the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system for monitoring water quality, the Environmental Management System (EMS) to reduce environmental impacts, and the Stormwater Operations & Canals Maintenance division, which is responsible for capturing and conveying drainage runoff, removing trash and pollutants, and responding to illicit discharges.
