Projects bring reclaimed water to 349 homes in Ocoee and Winter Garden

Purple pipes signify transmission of reclaimed water.

MAITLAND, Fla., June 27, 2019 — Two cities recently completed projects that will bring reclaimed water service to 349 existing households in central Florida. Ocoee and Winter Garden both received funding from the St. Johns River Water Management District for the conversion to reclaimed water for irrigation.

“Water reuse is an excellent way to help offset future water supply needs and to provide for long-term growth in the area,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle. “This is a project that will not only stretch freshwater supplies, but also help protect Florida’s natural resources.”

By using reclaimed water, communities can conserve traditional freshwater supplies and provide an environmentally responsible alternative to disposal of wastewater.

• In Winter Garden, the project required retrofitting 221 households in the Stoneybrook West community to convert properties from potable to reclaimed water for irrigation. The total project cost was $1.2 million, with the district and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection each contributing $312,500.
• In Ocoee, the installation of reclaimed water lines in the Windermere Groves neighborhood will provide the homeowners’ association and 128 households with reclaimed water for irrigation. The total project cost was $413,600, with the district contributing $136,488.

Both cities are located near Lake Apopka, within the Wekiva springshed and the Central Florida Water Initiative; expansion of their reclaimed water service will benefit the region’s water supply as well as help protect water quality and surrounding natural systems. Combined, the conversion will provide 70,000 gallons per day of reclaimed water for irrigation.