Plant City, Florida, USA – Exploring potable reuse for the future
The City of Plant City is a medium-size, agricultural-based community on the eastern outskirts of the Tampa Bay Area. The City’s current water resource management practices include withdrawal and treatment of groundwater for drinking water supply, the use of stormwater canals and the McIntosh Preserve for stormwater collection and treatment, and advanced wastewater treatment with discharge of treated water to a non-potable public access reuse system or to surface waters.
Due to increasing population growth, groundwater supply limitations, and recent legislative changes to surface water discharge practices, the City initiated an integrated management program to identify balanced solutions that carry multiple benefits across the City’s departments and the community overall. One facet of the program includes exploring potable reuse (purified recycled water) to augment their current drinking water supplies.
From February 2022 to May 2023, the City conducted a potable reuse pilot study consisting of membrane filtration, reverse osmosis, and UV/chlorine advanced oxidation. The pilot program confirmed the treatment train would meet anticipated regulatory requirements, established preliminary design and operating criteria for full-scale implementation, and engaged the public in discussions of water resource management and the use of alternative water supplies.
The City is now diving deeper in the evaluation of potable reuse from a cost and siting perspective as part of the full-scale design phase.
In the future, the City looks forward to incorporating potable reuse into an increasingly diversified water resource management portfolio.
Related resources
- Plant City Observer Article on City’s One Water Demonstration Facility: Plant City Works To Ensure City’s Water Independence | Plant City Observer
- Plant City Observer Article on City’s Recycled Water Brew: Locals Taste “Brew-tiful” New Beer Made From Recycled Water At Keel Farms | Plant City Observer
- Article on City’s Integrated Master Plan (page 27-29): Water Resources IMPACT Nov/Dec 2023 (flippingbook.com)
- Plant City Potable Reuse Video 1: Hazen and Sawyer | Video Story: Pilot Test Paves the Way Toward…
- Plant City Potable Reuse Video 2: https://youtu.be/gsT_ZUdM8ZA
- Plant City Hoppy Hour Video: https://youtu.be/SY2mpeVUACs