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South Orange County Water Plant Meets Growing Demand


Orange County has opened its new Southern Regional water supply facility, which can produce up to 30 million gallons of drinking water a day. The state-of-the-art treatment plant meets a growing demand for water in the area.

The new facility pumps water from 6 wells driven deep into the lower Floridan Aquifer. The water’s cleaned with ozone and piped out to 21 thousand homes and businesses in the region.

At the moment it produces about 12 million gallons a day.

Jacqueline Torbert, Orange County utilities water division manager, says the plant can pump more water as more houses are built.

“We have Horizons West getting ready to come on line, we have quite a few villages that are on the books right now," says Torbert

"It has lots of potential, and you have to have the water in advance of the actual growth. We don’t want to be behind times.”

Torbert says Horizons West could eventually require another 90 thousand water connections- more than this plant can supply.

When that happens, the county will look at expanding one of its other facilities.

But for now at least, according to southern regional water utilities supervisor Paul Wagner, the drinking water needs of the area should be satisfied.

"For the Southern systems, at this point right now we're very robust. We can supply a lot more growth. I'm sure we've got at least 10 or 15 years before the plant is even taxed hard."

Wagner says future demand will also be met by connecting the plant with other county facilities so water can be moved around to where it's needed most.

 

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