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What is
OASIS?
OASIS
is an
acronym
for
Our
Alternative
Supply
Irrigation
System.
The City operates and maintains the
OASIS
in a cost effective, reliable, and safe manner, which meets all State
and Federal permits and regulations. Using reuse water for irrigation
allows us to have a nearly limitless supply of irrigation water to keep
our City green and plush without tapping into our precious and limited
Biscayne Aquifer, our source for drinking water. Pompano Beach is
making it Clean
and turning it
Green.
What is reuse
water?
Reuse water is recycled water that has been highly
treated, filtered and disinfected for the irrigation of landscape areas.
Pompano Beach's reuse water system delivers recycled water to customers
through its own reuse water distribution system, completely separate
from our drinking water system.
How is reuse
made?
OASIS
reuse water is made by diverting water headed to the Atlantic Ocean from
the North Broward Regional Treatment Plant to our reuse facility. At our
reuse plant, the water is filtered through up flow sand filters and
disinfected using Sodium Hypo-Chlorite. After testing, the water is
pumped to ground storage tanks. It is sent via pressure pumps from the
ground storage tanks to your location for irrigation.
Why
does reuse water for irrigation make sense?
In the
past, this treated wastewater has been essentially 'thrown away' by
discharging it into the Ocean. Studies show us that the typical Pompano
Beach customer poured as much as 70% of their drinking water each month
onto lawns and landscaping. Reuse water is a way to conserve a valuable
resource by reducing the amount of drinking water used as irrigation. The
capacity of the
OASIS
facility is currently 7.5 million gallons a day, with a possible expansion
up to 12.5 million gallons a day for future use.
What
is the cost for a typical homeowner to hook up to the OASIS
system?
|
For existing taps |
Meter set fee |
|
¾” to 1” |
$225 |
|
1 ½” |
$267 |
|
2” |
$433 |
|
Availability Charge |
¾” & 5/8” meter sizes |
$7.84 a month |
|
Usage Charge |
0-382,000 gallons |
$.48 per 1,000 gallons |
A full listing of rates are listed in the
City Code of Ordinances, Chapter 54, §54.05 Connection Charges and Rates.
Potable water rates begin at $1.61 per 1,000 gallons.
What are other benefits of OASIS?
Other benefits include:
-
No wastewater treatment cost for Reuse
water
-
Postponing of capital expense to expand
the potable system
-
Reducing the need for fertilizer
-
Good environmental stewardship
Is
reuse water safe? Who else is doing this?
Yes,
reuse water is safe. The
OASIS
facility is licensed to function, under specific guidelines, by the State
of Florida and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The plant is
operated by Florida licensed Wastewater Plant Operators. All State and
Federal permits and regulations, along with Operator Certifications, can
be viewed at the Reuse Facility.
Many safeguards are built into every water
reclamation facility, and the water is tested to meet national, state and
local regulatory standards. The City of Pompano Beach meets or exceeds all
of these regulatory standards for its production of reuse water. Simply
put, this water cannot leave the plant until it has been fully tested for
safety and water quality. Reuse water is not intended for consumption,
but it poses no threat to public health from accidental contact.
Reuse water is actively used in more than
1,900 locations around the country, about 400 of them here in Florida.
Some communities on the west coast of Florida have had a similar
successful urban irrigation reuse water program in place for more than 20
years.
Who supports use of reuse water?
Use of reuse water for irrigation is one of
the alternative water supplies endorsed by the South Florida Water
Management District in an effort to prevent saltwater intrusion and
restore the Everglades. The use of reuse water is also supported by the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
What monitoring does reuse water undergo to
ensure its safety?
Reuse water is tested continuously using
online systems as well as tested daily for bacterial levels. A complete
suite of metals, inorganics and organics is conducted annually. All
results are reported to the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection.
Will reuse water stain my walls and
sidewalks?
Reuse water is colorless and will not stain
concrete.
Does reuse water smell?
The ability to smell varies from person to
person. Some people with a highly sensitive sense of smell may detect a
slight musky odor, while others may detect no odor.
What are improper applications of reuse
water?
Do not use for the following:
-
Body contact recreation, such as pools or
spas, hot tubs, wading pools or children playing in sprinklers.
-
Connection to a dwelling unit for any
purpose, including water cooled air conditioning consumption.
-
Operation through a hose bib.
-
Washing of pets, equipment, siding, roofs,
driveways, or vehicles.
-
Application to "salad" crops (i.e.,
lettuce, tomatoes, berries).
-
Any indoors use, such as drinking or
cooking.
Is
there an unlimited supply of reuse water?
While reuse water helps to conserve precious
drinking water, the supply is not without a limit. We suggest that you
treat it as any other resource, and water wisely.
Am
I required to connect to the OASIS system?
Yes.
If you are an existing commercial, existing multi-family or new single
family customer and live in an area where reuse water is available and you
have an in-ground sprinkler system, then hooking up to
OASIS is required within 90 days of receiving written notice.
No. If you are an existing single family
residence, your home is grandfathered and connection is not mandated.
If you
do not have an in-ground sprinkler system, then you cannot hook up to
OASIS
at this time. If you are currently watering your lawn through some other
means than the City’s drinking water system (such as from a well), you
must abandon the well and connect to
OASIS.
If you choose not to connect to
OASIS
you will be billed
the base meter charge to recover part of the expense to make the service
available to you. If you are not sure if you live in an area where
OASIS
is available, click on the Reuse Map link or feel free to call the City's
Customer Service Division at 954-786-4637.
Where is OASIS
available?
The initial phase made it possible to
provide reuse water services to Harbor Drive and future phases are already
being planned. Click on the Reuse Map link to view your neighborhood.
Will reuse water hurt my plants or lawn?
 Since reuse water is higher in salt content
than drinking water, very salt sensitive plants may be affected. Otherwise, the low level of nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen in
the reuse water may actually eliminate the need for additional
fertilizers.
Should reuse
water be used for edible plants?
Studies of the use of high quality reuse
water show that it can be safely used to irrigate edible food crops. In
fact, the National reuse guidelines (EPA, 1992) fully support the use of
reuse water meeting Florida's standards as being safe for irrigation of
any type of edible crop. Spray irrigation for citrus trees is
acceptable. However, Florida's reuse water guidelines are more stringent
than the National and International guidelines. Florida's reuse water
rules also allow for irrigation of food crops, but with one exception.
Spray irrigation using reuse water is prohibited for crops which will not
be peeled, skinned, cooked, or thermally processed before human
consumption (salad crops).
What happens if I get reuse on my skin or if
my pets get it on them?
No harmful effects have been reported to
occur due to reuse water exposure. Wash the affected area with soap and
water as a precaution. The Florida Statutes states: "The Legislature
finds that the use of reclaimed water...is environmentally acceptable and
not a threat to public health and safety."
Why have
purple meter boxes?
Purple (Pantone 522C) is the national color
standard symbolizing reuse/reclaimed water.
How
can I be sure that OASIS is helping the City to conserve drinking water?
By
using
OASIS
water instead of drinking water to irrigate, the City’s Golf Course,
Community Park and medians, customers have already been able to make a
notable impact. In 2004, the City and its customers used more than 546
million gallons of
OASIS
water for area beautification, saving 546 million gallons of drinking
water, 10% of our total drinking water.
In 2005, Citi Center Mall became a reuse
customer. As we continue to add to our customer base, the savings to our
system will grow.
A backflow assembly is a
mechanism that prevents back-siphonage of water. A backflow assembly
ensures that no reuse water is accidentally introduced into the drinking
water supply in the event of mistake in pipe connections or illegal
hookups.
Remember the reuse water and the drinking water systems are
completely separate and should never be interconnected. The backflow
assembly protects you and the rest of the City from possible cross
connections. Backflow assemblies are required by the State of Florida.
The customer owns
and is solely responsible for ensuring that the backflow prevention
assembly is installed and in satisfactory operating condition at all
times. The customer is responsible for hiring a Certified Backflow
prevention Technician to install and test the backflow prevention
assembly. Service will not be activated until the assembly passes this
Initial Backflow Prevention Assembly Test and Certification. If the
assembly does not pass this certification, the customer must contact a
Certified Backflow Prevention Technician to have the problem corrected.
The customer must then contact Pompano Beach Building Department, present
a Certification of Passing and have the Reuse water service activated.
All certifications must be performed by the customer’s Certified Backflow
Prevention Technician. This certificate must be onsite and available for
the plumbing inspector at the time of inspection.
How do I connect to OASIS Reuse?
Go to
the Sign up link or call Customer Service Division at 954.786.4637.
Who maintains my reuse system?
You maintain your irrigation system
(sprinklers & pipes) as well as ensure that the backflow assembly is
checked once a year by a certified technician. The City of Pompano Beach
maintains the network of distribution pipes and the meter.
How can I learn more about
OASIS and
reuse programs in our area?
If you would like to
receive more information about
OASIS,
or about other ways to conserve water, please go to the Useful Links on
our web page or call Customer Service Division at 954.786.4637.
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