AWWA DSS69211

This paper begins by providing a brief overview of the City of Pompano Beach, Florida and its water utility services. Prior to 2006, the utility was unable to maintain an appropriate disinfectant residual in the distribution system. Large volumes of water were wasted in a flushing program whose sole intent was meeting the minimum required disinfectant residual. Consultants studied the situation and recommended a $2 million chlorine booster station in the southwest area of the system. New utility management believed the installation of a booster station did not address the root cause. The key elements involved in finding/solving the problem(s) were: using telemetry as a tool to solve chloramine residual problems; optimizing ground storage tank operations; optimizing the chlorine-to-ammonia ratio at the water treatment plant; managing excess capacity in the distribution system; developing an effective routine flushing program consisting of an appropriate flushing velocity, automatic flushing devices, setting a chlorine standard higher than the legal minimum, forced flow flushing routine, and changing the mindset of staff. Lessons learned are provided. Includes figures.