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Reclaimed
water is pumped from the City's McLeod Road and the County's South Regional
Water Reclamation Facilities to the Water Conserv II Distribution Center in
Western Orange County. The water is then distributed to customers for
irrigation or to the RIBs through a network of distribution pipes. The entire
process is monitored and carefully controlled by state-of-the-art supervisory
control and data acquisition (SCADA) computers housed at the Distribution
Center.
SCADA
Computer Control Room The
RIBs are made up of one to five cells, each measuring approximately 350 feet
long by 150 feet wide. They are built over a natural sand ridge ranging in
thickness from 30 to 200 feet. Beneath these surficial sands is a dense
concentration of semi-permeable clays known as the Hawthorn formation. The
Hawthorn acts as a barrier separating shallow groundwater flow within the
surficial sands from deeper, confined flow in the Floridan aquifer, which is
comprised primarily of fractured limestones and dolomites. In
this region of West Orange and Southeast Lake Counties, shallow groundwater
in the surficial sands follows primarily lateral flow patterns above the
Hawthorn until reaching areas of low resistance that permit significant
vertical flow downward into the Floridan aquifer, thus replenishing our
drinking water supply. Initially of sufficient quality to meet most state and
federal primary and secondary drinking water standards, the reclaimed water
continues to be polished as it travels through the surficial sands and deeper
limestones. Operation
of the Rapid Infiltration Basin system is accomplished through a computerized
management system. The system provides
the capability to forecast the impact on the regional groundwater system of
loading individual or groups of RIBs at prescribed rates and duration.
Rapid Infiltration Basin Site 6 |
