Are you ever thankful you aren’t using an outhouse (unless you actually do have an outhouse)? Do you appreciate having clear water coming out of your shower head? Do you ever think about where things go when you flush? There are people who think about these things all the time.
The City of Plant City Utilities Operations Division sits near I-4 off Alexander Street. The building is on the same property as those big white tanks. The Water Reclamation Facility that treats the City’s wastewater is permitted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to process 10 million gallons each day.
Nineteen operators work in the Department. The operators work 12-hour shifts, three and a half days a week, and monitor the water and wastewater systems 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The operators go through a load of technological training, certification testing, and experience to work in water control and reclamation. Their mission is to protect the environment, and the health and safety of the citizens of Plant City.
“The main objective is we are providing safe and reliable drinking water to the citizens and visitors of Plant City,” said Patrick Murphy, Chief Plant Operator for the Water and Wastewater Division. “And that we’re not putting lumpy water on the streets.” “Murf” has worked as an operator for Plant City for 21 years, and is a “Double A” licensed operator in both water and wastewater.
“I was born and raised in Polk County, so I remember how clear the lake waters were when I was growing up,” Murf said. “So, being in this career for almost 40 years now, working at wastewater plants, then coming to Plant City—and becoming a State licensed Water Operator also for the last 20 years—I get to have a more responsible role in environmental stewardship. I come to work every single day and try to do the best that I can at this job to be a good steward. Every day is different. Every day something can be learned or added to your skill set. Part of drawing people into the concept of environmental stewardship involves public outreach, giving tours of our facilities to show them what is actually happening, training new operators to make informed decisions in keeping our facilities compliant with state and federal regulations, and in general, keeping water clean. It’s more than a job to me!”
The Operators make sure all of the systems and plans are functioning the way they should. Both potable water and treated wastewater need to be regulated and held within standards set by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).
“The citizens of Plant City are fantastic compared to any other utility that I’ve worked at,” Murf said. “The City Commissioners and upper hierarchy are smart, and supportive of dealing with water and wastewater treatment. The operators for the Utilities Operations Division are some of the best in the State of Florida, obtaining dual licenses in drinking water and wastewater treatment. And many of them have won personal awards for dedication and service in the industry. My reward is getting to be a part of that!”
The system Plant City Operators use for electronic control and monitoring of the water processes is named the Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. This system records and transmits readings from nearby and remote instruments and sensors in both the water system and the sewer system. A large screen at the facility presents readings for acidity (pH), chlorine levels, several other chemicals, and how pumps are working, among other things.
The four (soon to be five) water treatment plants pump groundwater from the Floridan Aquifer to supply potable “drinking” water. The wastewater treatment plant uses technology to reclaim water for use in irrigation and industry, and will soon be used at McIntosh Preserve to help hydrate the wetlands when needed. With so many systems, lift pumps, 250 miles of water pipes, and 250 miles of sewage pipes, things need adjustments many times a day. Infrastructure can also need surprise physical repairs. The operators take what is wrong, make it right, and resolve any problems.
As sewer water is pumped between treatment tanks, microorganisms eat the contaminants and gravity helps to purify it in settling tanks. Also, in a final step to remove particulates from the water, it is routed through 65 modules, each filled with 10 tons of sand. After passing through the reclamation system, the water is called “effluent,” or the final product of processing.
The Plant City Water and Wastewater Division is one of the 1,000 utilities in Florida that provide water that is consistently rated “very good.” They have won an award 10 times for being one of the top three in Florida for the quality of their wastewater final product, and have over 20 years of drinking-water treatment compliance.
Plans have been proposed to upgrade water processing in Plant City so that in the future, reclaimed water can be used as a source of water that will then be treated to potable standards. This reclaimed water will go through an additional three-steps in a future, advanced treatment water facility. The City tested this process for 15 months in a pilot project.
1. Membrane filtration: a pressure pump sends the water to a canister filled with tiny cylindrical filters. Contaminants like bacteria, viruses, and particles are caught on the outside of the tubes.
2. Reverse osmosis: pressure again moves the water—this time to a semi-permeable membrane that only water and very small molecules can pass through. Reverse osmosis is used by U.S. Navy ships, in space, and by bottled water companies to provide clean water.
3. Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection and advanced oxidation: in this step the UV light reacts with chemicals like hydrogen peroxide to break down molecules that could carry disease, rendering them harmless.
The need for such processes to maintain enough water in Florida has increased and will continue to increase because 1,000 people a day are moving into the state. Projections are Plant City will continue to grow rapidly for another 20 years. This team of operators will increase their knowledge, skills, and technology to keep us, and all of the incoming residents, healthy and safe.