Everest Water Reclamation Facility Tour
Last week, along with with some members of our voluntary Home Owners Association, I was able to tour one of our water treatment facilities in Cape Coral. We toured the Everest facility, which happens to be in my neighborhood. This facility is one of 3 in Cape Coral, but is the most advanced and also the 2017 Utility of the Future award winner, and honor that only 1 other city received this award in the entire state of Florida.
"The Utility of the Future framework provides a model for utilities of all sizes to achieve more efficient operations, enhanced productivity, and long-term sustainability. The recognition program component, Utility of the Future Today, was launched in 2016 by four water sector organizations—the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the Water Research Foundation (WRF) and the WateReuse Association (WateReuse), with input from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)." -https://watereuse.org/news-events/awards/utility-of-the-future/
This facility processes our waste water that is processed and treated to meet the guidelines set forth by the EPA and the FDEP for river discharge, deep injection and/or reuse water for the City’s irrigation system. These facilities also manage the almost 300 lift stations that are located throughout our city that pump the waster water out, they maintain the freshwater canal systems, and the freshwater pump stations.
Cape Coral has roughly 300 miles of freshwater canals that provide water storage through a system of 25 weirs and 5 pump stations. This storage provides water during our dry season, and also manages storm water for flood control.
Station where the waste water comes in.
Gasses and air are removed and run through carbon filtration to eliminate odors.
When the waste water comes in, it is processed in several stages. Odor control, nutrient elimination, chemical treatment and storage. The water quality is tested continually to make sure that it meets the guidelines, and if it does not, the water is sent through injection to a deep water well.
Water is constantly moving and flowing.
Irrigation water is a necessity in our area to prevent erosion, but we also must adhere to a water schedule, especially in our dry seasons due to shortages. For more info on when you can water your lawn, and for how long, please click HERE and see "Sprinkler Information".
This was a fantastic tour, and very informative about the inner workings of our infrastructure. We were very grateful to be allowed to tour the facility, and had a fantastic tour guide as well!
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