From Concept to Operation: Florida's First Inland, LPRO Regional Water Treatment Facility

Abstract

Historically, several cities in western Palm Beach County, Fla., have used lake water to meet potable water demands. This surface water supply has a high organic carbon content, high color values, and widely varying alkalinity and hardness values. The conventional surface water treatment facilities operated by the individual cities (Lake Region Utilities) had relatively long service lives and lacked necessary treatment processes to meet stringent regulatory requirements. In addition, the allocation of surface water from the lake had become controversial relating to the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. To help these communities provide fully compliant potable water to sustain residents, as well as tourism, commercial, and industrial development, the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department agreed to construct a 10-mgd treatment facility to provide potable water on a wholesale basis to the Lake Region communities. This article explores the process—from design concept through operation—of constructing that low-pressure reverse osmosis regional water treatment facility.