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RECLAIM |
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Downloadable Information
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Thank you for your interest in reclaimed water! The use of
reclaimed water saves nearly 1 million gallons of drinking water
in the City of Ocoee each day. It is a safe and beneficial
irrigation source for grass, plants and vegetation. Please note
that there are two hyperlinks below with information for
residents that already have a separate irrigation meter in place
for the reclaim transition and also for residents that do not
already have an irrigation meter. |
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What do I need to do to complete the transition to reclaimed
water?
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Review the following information about reclaimed water, execute and return the
Reclaim Acknowledgement Form to the Utilities Administration office at 1800 A.D. Mims Road (across from the Jim Beech Center), and schedule a cross-connection inspection. You may also mail the form to: |
Water Conservation Coordinator
City of Ocoee Utilities
1800 A.D. Mims Road
Ocoee, FL 34761-4001
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Please note: Service cannot be turned on to a home until the
reclaim application has been received by the Utilities
Department
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Any questions about reclaim hookup and service can be directed to the Utilities Department at (407) 905-3159 for more information. |
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The following are frequently asked questions that should provide
valuable information to residents in the process of receiving
reclaimed water: |
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What is reclaimed water?
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Reclaimed water is highly treated wastewater that has been transformed into a product that generally meets standards normally applied to drinking water. In addition to the advanced treatment process, reclaimed water must meet strict Florida Department of Environmental Protection Reclaim Standards for quality before it is provided to our customers. |
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Is reclaimed water service’s availability reliable?
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Reclaim water is usually available for use by customers. Ocoee’s reclaimed water must go through five different processes while continuously being tested, ensuring the final output will qualify for public contact standards. If any test fails, reclaim is immediately diverted to storage and reprocessed to ensure water quality. It also takes the wastewater usage of three to five homes to produce enough reclaim to supply one home’s daily irrigation demand. Thus, there are times when reclaim is unavailable because of treatment issues or high demands. |
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If your irrigation system appears not to be working, please contact the Utilities Department at (407) 905-3159 to check reclaim availability.
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How can reclaimed water be used?
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Reclaimed water should be used mostly for the irrigation of lawns, flower beds, commercial properties, highway medians, parks, athletic fields and schools. It can also be used for outside cleaning such as car washing, pressure washing, ornamental fountains/waterfalls and the maintaining of pond levels. |
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Is it recommended for any other purposes?
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Not at this time. You will still have to use potable (drinking) water for pools, hot tubs or water-to-air cooling and heating systems. It can be used with vegetable and fruit gardens, however the produce must be peeled, cooked or heat processed prior to eating. And to insure that we keep the drinking water pure, cross connections between the reclaimed water system and potable water or well systems are not allowed. |
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What about the spigot on the side of my house?
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In most cases, your spigot is connected to drinking water. If you have any concerns or feel that your spigot may be connected to your irrigation system, please contact the Utilities Department. Customers may install an in-ground hose connection for reclaimed water, but this must have a quick disconnect and a marker to identify it as reclaimed water. Above-ground hose bibs are not allowed to be hooked up to the new reclaimed water system. |
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Is reclaimed water safe?
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Yes, but it is not designated as drinking water. Physical contact with reclaimed water has no known negative health effects, so if you are accidentally splashed or sprayed with reclaimed water, there is no reason to be alarmed. Reclaimed water must meet strict Florida Department of Environmental Protection standards for quality before it is provided to our customers. The system is supervised 24 hours a day by licensed treatment plant personnel, as well as electronic monitoring devices. |
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Is the water safe for my grass and plants?
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Very much so! In fact, the low level of nutrients contained in the water can be very beneficial to plant and turf growth. The treatment of reclaimed water produces water that is non-staining, odorless and has a good appearance. |
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Will it cost less?
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Yes, it will! The rate charged for irrigation is less than drinking water. Please visit the
Utility Billing site for current rates. |
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When can I irrigate with reclaimed water?
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Reclaimed water is not subject to watering restrictions at this time. Please keep in mind, however, that the City of Ocoee recommends you do not irrigate between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. |
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Not sure? Please contact the Utilities Department at
(407) 905-3159 to find out!
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