Operations: The Water Resources & Pumping Operation's primary focus is on monitoring and maintaining the lift stations. Lift stations are pumping stations that lift sewage flowing at a slow rate to height and then discharge it back into the line to increase the velocity of the flow to the Wastewater Reclamation Facility. Trip alarms notify Facilities Maintenance personnel of problems in the system so they can be quickly rectified.

Capacity: There are 125 lift stations in place serving approximately 400 miles of return sewage lines. Each station is equipped with two, three or four pumps with varying horsepower motors capable of moving from 70 to 10,000 gallons of flow per minute.

Repairing electrical circuit on lift station motors and controls

Special Operations: Support of the Renaissance Project. The Renaissance Project was developed to manage storm water from City Place, the Palm Beach Convention Center and the Kravis Center Expansion. Now operational, the project eliminates the need to discharge untreated water to the Lake Worth Lagoon. The Project adds over 300 million gallons of treated storm water to the City water system per year reducing reliance on Lake Okeechobee and increasing flow to the Florida Everglades. The Project also provides flood protection to the low-lying neighborhoods adjacent to the Stub Canal.

Operations and Maintenance: The Facilities Maintenance Division has personnel on call twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week, and 365 days per year. Should a malfunction in any of our systems occur, maintenance personnel are called in to rectify it.

Structure: The Facilities Maintenance Superintendent, assisted by a secretary is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the unit, budgeting and long range planning. The Department, under the Superintendent is structured in the following manner:

Maintenance Leaders are responsible for keeping the stations in operation on a daily basis. They schedule visits to each station and generate work orders for corrective maintenance.

Utilities Maintenance Mechanics carry out the preventative maintenance programs on lift stations, pumping stations, fountains and the water resource stations. Mechanical repairs are completed as needed. These work crews renovate obsolete stations and up-grade existing stations with new equipment and/or increased capacity pumps and associated equipment. Special efforts are made to control the odor produced by the hydrogen sulfide gases that develop naturally by sewage being moved through City lines. Biochemical applications and mechanical air scrubbers control noxious odors. Utilities Electricians and Control Technicians carry out the preventative maintenance on the electrical and telemetry equipment. New equipment is installed and tested when required.

Water Resource Management
A work unit of Water Resources & Pumping Operation

Water Management Crews restoring trees after the 2004 hurricanes

Mission - To ensure a consistent supply of raw water reaches the Water Treatment Plant for processing in a timely manner and to maintain water related properties owned by the City.

Operations - This work unit monitors water levels and manages the flow of water to the Water Treatment Plant.

On-going maintenance programs ensure the unimpeded flow of water through City canals. Maintenance programs include:

• Maintaining 26 miles of the
  M-canal


• Controlling vegetation on canal banks


• Maintaining canal service roads


• Maintaining 20 square miles of the catchment area, aka. Grassy Waters Preserve


• Maintaining 10 miles of City owned shoreline around Clear Lake and Lake Mangonia


• Maintaining equipment required to regulate the flow of water.


• Maintaining Wetlands Based well field to meet City demands for water during drought


• Maintaining Wetlands Reuse Site


• Maintaining Western Communities Preserve


• Applying approved aquatic herbicides and other pest management practices to insure canals are free of vegetation overgrowth.

Capacity: The City has the ability to manipulate stored water in the catchment area to compensate for dry and rainy seasons, periodic storms, absorption and evaporation rates.

Natural Maintenance: Includes the application of aquatic herbicide to eradicate surface plants and submersed weeds. Hyacinth traps are installed at seven locations along the M-canal.

Natural Maintenance also includes the removal of exotic vegetation, Melaleuca eradication, the cutting of brush and the removal of fallen trees. This work group maintains the trees bordering service roads and the grounds, trail systems and buildings of the Grassy Waters Nature Facilities, North and South

Mechanical Maintenance: Includes preventative and corrective maintenance of the electrical and diesel pumps that move water along the canals, into and out of the water catchment area or into the lake system.

Other: Water Resources Management personnel oversee the completion of various grants, contractual services and environmental resources permit compliance requirements. These responsibilities encompass over 13,000 acres of City owned conservation properties and environmental sensitive areas.

This work unit maintains the new Apoxee Trailhead off Jog road. They will also operate the off-site, Advance Water Treatment process and associated well fields when that project comes on line.