City to Receive Water from the L8 Reservoir
Jun 23, 2011 - Mayor's Office, Public Utilities
Due to the extreme drought conditions The South Florida Water Management District with approval from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is prepared to release water from the L8 Reservoir to the City of West Palm Beach effective Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 8:00 pm.
This water will help supplement the City’s water supply and will be mixed with water in the “M” canal prior to its movement to Lake Mangonia and Clear Lake.
The City will monitor the L8 Reservoir water for water quality and chlorides as it travels down the “M” canal. The water will be held at Control Structure 4 until water quality tests show chlorides do not exceed acceptable standards. If the chlorides are within acceptable standards the water will be further diluted with water from the City’s well discharges beyond Control Structure 4.
Other entities have access to the L8 Reservoir water. The proposed discharge is 83 CFS (cubic feet per second) or approximately 51 million gallons per day. The City will be allowed to pull water for approximately 8 hours per day.
The City needs all water users to conserve water during these extreme drought conditions. The area rain fall is 24 inches below normal.
Restaurants are encouraged to only serve water upon request, condo and homeowner associations should not run their fountains as frequently, if at all, and all residents should make sure their washers and dishwashers are only run with full loads. Any water saved through conservation measures will be a help to get us through this difficult time.
Since Friday, June 17, City staff has been actively enforcing the current one day per week water restrictions with approximately one hundred warnings and four citations issued.
For more water saving tips and conservation measures please visit http://www.wpb.org/newsroom/2011/06/08/extreme-drought-prompts-one-day-watering-in-wpb/
Traffic Advisory: Australian Ave. between 7th St. and Banyan Blvd.
Jun 10, 2011 - Mayor's Office, Public Utilities, Traffic
To facilitate emergency utility work the following road closure will be in effect from 5AM Wednesday, June 22 until Friday June 24, 2011 when the area will reopen to traffic.
LOCATION: Australian Ave. between 7th Street and Banyan Blvd.
SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC ONLY
RESTRICTION: The southbound traffic will be detoured via: Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Dixie Hwy. and Banyan Blvd.
Motorists are urged to avoid the area and to adjust travel time accordingly.
Extreme Drought Prompts One Day Watering in WPB
Jun 08, 2011 - Mayor's Office, Public Utilities, Sustainability
The City of West Palm Beach and the region as a whole is in an extreme drought. The rain deficit has affected all area communities including our primary water supplies at Grassy Waters Preserve, Lake Mangonia and Clear Lake. Our lakes have dropped dramatically over the past several weeks and with no rainfall water supply levels are becoming critical.
Due to current drought conditions, the City of West Palm Beach through the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is initiating one day a week irrigation restrictions. These restrictions become effective Monday, June 13, 2011.
The tighter restrictions affect all City of West Palm Beach water service area customers including the Town of Palm Beach and the Town of South Palm Beach. Customers with odd number residences may only water using irrigation systems on Wednesday’s from 4:00 am to 8:00 am. Even number addresses, which include common areas and multi-family dwellings may only use irrigation systems on Thursday’s from 4:00 am to 8:00 am. Hand watering may be done on the same days from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm for 10 minutes. These restrictions include usage from the City’s potable drinking water system, internal community lake or canal systems, or any other water conveyance inside the City’s utility service area.
Please help to inform your friends and neighbors and take steps to reduce water usage. The City will actively enforce this necessary conservation effort.
To view the Declaration of Water Shortage, One-Day-A-Week Landscape Irrigation Restrictions, and Resolution No. 163-11, click here.
30 Things You Can Do To Save Water
In the bathroom:
1. Shorten your shower. A one or two minute reduction can save up to 700 gallons of water each month. If possible take a shallow bath instead of a shower for even greater water savings.
2. Replace your showerhead with low-flow showerheads or install flow restrictors
3. Put trash in the wastebasket – don’t flush! Each time you flush a small bit of trash you waste up to five to seven gallons of water.
4. Check for leaks in your toilets. Drop a dye tablet in your toilet tank or add a few drops of food coloring and let stand for at least three hours. If the color begins to appear in the bowl without flushing, your toilet has a leak and could be wasting thousands of gallons of water each year. Repair those leaks!
5. When brushing your teeth, wet your toothbrush, then, turn off the water.
6. Rinse your razor in a partially filled sink instead of under a running tap.
7. Check faucets and pipes for leaks. Replace worn washers. Small drips from worn washers can waster 20 or more gallons a day. Large leaks can waste hundreds or even thousands of gallons of water.
8. Put a plastic bottle in your toilet. Fill the bottle with water and a small amount of pebbles (to weigh it down) and place it in your tank, away from operating mechanisms. Your plastic bottle works like a displacement bag.
9. While waiting for your bath water to get warm, place a bucket under the faucet to catch the cold water and then use it to water your plants.
10. Building or remodeling your home? Ensure only ultra-low flush (U.L.F.) toilets and faucets are installed.
In the kitchen and laundry:
11. Keep a bottle of water in the refrigerator for drinking. Don’t run the tap waiting for cold water.
12. Rinse vegetables in a pan of water – not under a running tap.
13. Use your dishwasher and washing machine for full loads only.
14. Never leave the water running if you wash dishes by hand. Fill one sink with soapy water and one with clear water. If you have only one sink use a dish rack and rinse with hot water.
15. Use the smallest amount of detergent possible when washing dishes by hand. This reduces the amount of water needed.
16. Check your kitchen/bath pipes and faucets for leaks and replace worn washers immediately.
17. Use the garbage disposal less and the garbage can more often. Better yet, compost!
18. Defrost frozen foods in the microwave or refrigerator, instead of under running water.
Outdoors:
19. Water your lawn in the early morning based upon current water restrictions when there is less evaporation.
20. Plant drought-resistant native trees and plants. There are many beautiful plants and trees that thrive on small amounts of water.
21. Don’t let your children play with the hose and sprinklers.
22. Place a layer of mulch around trees and plants. Mulch slows evaporation of moisture and discourages weed growth.
23. Don’t water your lawn on a windy day to prevent excessive evaporation.
24. Set lawn mower blades on notch higher since longer grass means less evaporation.
25. If you have a pool, use a pool cover to cut down on evaporation.
26. Don’t water the sidewalk. Adjust sprinklers so they miss the sidewalks, driveway, and street.
27. Water only when your lawn really needs it. If the grass springs back after you step on it, there is no need to water it .
28. Check for leaks in hoses, faucets, pipes and couplings. Outside leaks can waste just as much as those inside.
29. Sweep sidewalks and driveways. Don’t hose them down.
30. Do not wash your car at home, use a carwash (they use recycled water).
West Palm Beach e4 Sustainability Summit: April 16
Apr 07, 2011 - Mayor's Office, Public Utilities, Sustainability, Waterfront
GREEN FAMILY GREEN BUSINESS GREEN FUTURE
Join us April 16, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The third Annual e4 Sustainability Summit is fast approaching! Join the City’s Office of Sustainability on April 16 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the beautiful Waterfront Commons and recently recognized LEED Silver-certified Lake Pavilion for a day of fun, excitement and education.
In partnership with the West Palm Beach Green Market, this year’s Summit is FREE and features family friendly activities such as a 17-foot earth balloon exhibit and the Earthman musical performance. There’s also a green product/services exhibition, educational speakers, and business networking opportunities. Learn ways to conserve energy and water, promote “green” activities with your loved ones, and “green” your home or business while taking in the sights and sounds of the Waterfront and Green Market.
Those participating in the exhibition are businesses and organizations promoting Conservation, Education, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, Sustainable, Organic, All Natural, Made of Recycled material and Eco-Tourism. Interested in presenting an activity or short educational program? Please contact Penni Redford at predford@wpb.org.
The event is dog-friendly, and there’s free parking in the Banyan Street Garage until 3:00 p.m. Go to www.wpb.org/e4 for Summit details along with exhibitor application information and sponsorship opportunities.
If you have yet to participate in our FREE water conservation fixture replacement program please visit www.wpb.org/sustainability/water-sip/ for program details. An exchange booth will be set up at the e4 Summit for your convenience.
Office of Sustainability
City of West Palm Beach
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Public Utility Notice
Mar 18, 2011 - Public Utilities
Lift Station No. 13, located on Parker Avenue at Caroline Street across from Fire Station No. 4, shut down for a period early in the day. The City is taking all steps to restore the Lift Station to full operation.
As required, the Health Department and the Department of Environmental Protection were immediately notified. There is no impact or danger to public health.
Residents in the affected area are asked to conserve water until 8PM when repairs will be completed.
The impact area includes Okeechobee South to Belvedere and Parker East to Flagler.
If residents observe a sewer backup, please call 561-822-2210.