FRWA eNews
November 7, 2018
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Wastewater Services
Groundwater Services
FRWA Helps Port St. Joe Recover from Hurricane Michael

When Hurricane Michael made landfall, Port St. Joe water plant staff watched the wind hurl fifty-gallon steel drums from the yard into the tree line.

"This is probably the safest building in the county," said Larry McClamma, the Port St. Joe water plant manager. "I sat there and watched the storm throw barrels into the trees."

The hurricane interrupted water and wastewater service to the city, but assistance from the Florida Rural Water Association helped keep the water flowing and the sewers from backing up.

High wind damaged the water plant's storage facilities, creating chemical spills that had to be secured before any other work could be done. It also filled the canal that acts as the plant's water source with debris and prevented the plant from taking in raw water.

"Downed trees blocked 17 miles of the canal," McClamma said.

Workers from FRWA and Tallahassee utilities helped clear the canal and restore service.

Port St. Joe's wastewater system required more assistance to maintain service.

"We lost the ability to pump effluent," explained Kevin Pettis, the Port St. Joe wastewater plant manager. "We lost both of our backup generators."

The storm knocked out power to the city's wastewater lift stations, preven ting the sewage from flowing normally and risking overflows. FRWA provided emergency power generators and bypass pumps to operate the wastewater plant and keep the lift stations functioning.

"We're busted up and haphazard but we're functional," Pettis said.

Generators and bypass pumps have 70% of the wastewater system operating at normal. It is an accomplishment that would not be possible without assistance from Rural Water.

"When you look at the scope of the damage and the small number of hands available, it would have been overwhelming without Rural Water," Pettis said.
National News
Louisiana Rural Water Association Helps Restore Water in Parker, Fla. After Hurricane Michael  Amber Parkle and her daughter had been without water for ten days, and they cheered when responders from the Louisiana Rural Water Association opened their meter and water poured from the outside faucet. more

New Orleans would have to offer timeline for lead pipe removal under proposed law Water utilities like the New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board would be required to develop timelines for getting rid of lead pipes under a plan being put forward by state Sen. J.P. Morrell more

President signs Water Resources Development Act into law | Fort Myers Beach Observer  The Water Resources Development Act that was passed by a staggering margin in the Senate recently, made its way to President Trump's desk Tuesday afternoon more

Work to replace water main under Summerlin Avenue could takes years, OUC says | WESH 
Summerlin Avenue is set to reopen next week, but efforts to prevent another water main break could take three years. more

EPA head Wheeler says rollbacks will keep environment clean, economy up At an oil and gas conference in Pittsburgh Wednesday, Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler touted the Trump administration's moves to roll back over 70 environmental regulations, more
State News
Mandatory boil water notice lifted for City of Callaway | My Panhandle The mandatory boil water notice has been lifted in the City of Callaway. more

Sewage spills into Ocoee residents' homes | WESH Imagine this: You live in a home that gets flooded with sewage after crews are working on a nearby lift station.  more
This Week in Water History
October 31, 1908:  He woke up with a start when Boomer let out a howl. "Darn," he thought, "I must have fallen asleep." He looked around and saw the sun starting to set. He scratched his chin wondering what would have made him sleep the day away like that. As he sat, bewildered, he noticed his fishing pole, next to him, hadn't been used at all. Just then, Boomer sprang to the other side of the boat and let out another long howl. "What is with you, dog?" he snapped, but Boomer didn't stop. Boomer started clawing at the wood on the side of the boat. Confused by these strange actions, the man peered over the edge of the boat.   more

For more articles on what went on this week in water history, click here
Florida Rural Water Association |  frwa@frwa.net | http://www.frwa.net
2970 Wellington Circle
Tallahassee FL 32309
850.668.2746