Meet Our New Team Members!

The Northwest District welcomed three new environmental specialists to our Potable Water team: in Pensacola, Ben Russell and Alexandria “Lexie” Woodson, and in Panama City, Larry Couch!

Ben performs drinking water inspections and is responsible for reviewing bacteriological monitoring reports (except those associated with boil water notices).

Lexie performs drinking water inspections, reviews monthly operating reports and coordinates activities associated with boil water notices.

Larry works in our Panama City office. He performs drinking water inspections and National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater inspections.

New DEP Website and Email Addresses

We have redesigned our website to make sure it’s functional, visually appealing and easy to use. As part of the redesign, we implemented a new, easy-to-remember web domain: www.floridadep.gov. 

To be consistent with the new web address, DEP is also changing our email addresses from dep.state.fl.us to floridadep.gov.

For example, John.Doe@dep.state.fl.us will now be John.Doe@floridadep.gov. For a while, both email domain addresses will work, but please go ahead and update your contact lists with this change.

As part of these changes, the department has simplified the email addresses you use to submit reports to us electronically.  

• All bacteriological results (except for construction permit clearances), Boil Water Notice issuances and rescissions (notices, trouble reports, and clearance results) should now be submitted to nwdpws@floridadep.gov
• Monthly Operating Reports should now be submitted to DWRM_data_entry_tal@floridadep.gov

Our previous email address for all of the above, epostnwdwfpws@dep.state.fl.us, will continue to work for a limited time, but please go ahead and update your records to reflect this change. 

An updated list of NWD potable water contacts is below for your convenience.

Congratulations to our Northwest District 2017 Drinking Water Plant Operations Excellence Award Winners!

Small Community:
Naval Air Station Whiting Field

Medium Community:
Destin Water Users, Inc.

Large Community:
Bay County Water Treatment Plant

Each year, the department presents awards to drinking water facilities around the state that demonstrate excellence in operation, maintenance, innovative treatment, waste reduction and pollution prevention, recycling or other special achievements. These awards are presented to recognize facilities that demonstrate a special commitment to excellence in management through dedicated professionalism.

Do I Need a Permit for That?

The Northwest District office receives many inquiries regarding whether a permit is required to perform certain activities for public water systems. Rule 62-555.520(1)(d), Florida Administrative Code (Fla. Admin. Code), addresses specific activities that do not require a permit.

For example, no permit or notification to the department is required for:

• Installation or alteration of any valve, flow meter or backflow preventer.
• Installation or alteration of any fire hydrant or hydrant lead.
• Construction or alteration of any single service line, which includes any of the following: 1. Piping to a single or dual meter box that serves one or two buildings or irrigation systems or one building plus one irrigation system; or 2. Piping to a single building, irrigation system, or fire protection system. 

For a complete list of activities not requiring a permit or notification to the department, please visit Rule 62-555.520(1)(d)1-13, Fla. Admin. Code.

Are Your Customers Reading Your CCR?

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If Reaching Your Customers is Important to You, Read Below!

A study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency indicates that about one-third of water system customers read their Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). This means you can reach one-third of your customers with one document. 

It doesn't take a big advertising or printing company to produce a quality, easy-to-read report containing valuable information about your system. Before you prepare your CCR, think about what you want your customers to know and what you can help them understand about your water system.

INCLUDE PHOTOS WITH CAPTIONS

Did you read the caption under the photo above before you read this article? Think about it next time you briefly scan an article - do you read the photo captions first? Is that all you read? A few properly placed photos with interesting captions increases the readability of your document. Even if your customers don’t read the whole CCR, they may read the captions under the pictures. 

HIGHLIGHT KEY WATER QUALITY INFO

Above all else, you want customers to know that you are providing them with a quality product. We are fortunate to have great quality water in Northwest Florida. If your water system meets all federal and state requirements, make it your headline, put it upfront and highlight it! “We are pleased to report that our drinking water meets all federal and state requirements!” It may be the one thing customers remember.

DEP STAFF CAN HELP

We’ll be glad to help! CCR Help Sessions will be held again this year in Pensacola and Tallahassee to assist you in writing your CCR. We ask that you sign up well in advance since sessions fill up quickly. You can find the 2018 Help Session dates and locations below and also here.

Help Session Dates for 2018

Pensacola -

• Jan. 23 - 1 p.m. CST
• Jan. 24 - 8 a.m. or 1 p.m. CST
• March 21 - 1 p.m. CST
• March 22 - 8 a.m. or 1 p.m. CST

Tallahassee -

• Feb. 27 - 1 p.m. EST
• Feb. 28 - 8 a.m. or 1 p.m. EST
• April 25 - 11 a.m.  EST

Remember, CCRs are due to your customers no later than July 1, annually. 

If you don’t need the hands-on assistance offered in our Help Sessions, we can email you your data and review a draft of your CCR for you before your finalize the report.

If you have any questions, want to sign up for a Help Session or request data, please contact Liz Willard at 850-595-0667 or elizabeth.willard@floridadep.gov or Lexie Woodson at 850-595-0640 or
Alexandria.Woodson@floridadep.gov. Let us know how we can help you.

Happy 19th Annual CCR Season!

Are You Replacing or Relocating Water Mains?

Rule 62-555.520(1)(c)2., Florida Administrative Code (Fla. Admin. Code), will be revised to clarify that a permit is not required for the replacement of any existing water main with a new main at the same location. Same location includes the same right-of-way, same easement or same site as the existing main as long as the new main will be the same size as the existing main, no more than two sizes larger than the existing main or no larger than the minimum size required or recommended in Recommended Standards for Water Works as incorporated into Fla. Admin Code Rule 62-555.330.

Although a permit is not required in these cases, the department must still be notified of water main replacement and relocation projects.

The notification must include:

•  A description of the scope;
•  Purpose for the replacement or relocation;
•  Location of the work or alterations;
•  Assurance that the work or alterations will comply
   with applicable requirements in Part III of Chapter
   62-555, including applicable requirements in the
   engineering references listed in Fla. Admin. Code
   Rule 62-555.330; and
•  A site plan or sketch of the work to be completed.

Upcoming Dates for the Operator Certification Test

Operator certification tests are available in Pensacola. The next test scheduled in Pensacola will be March 7, 2018. You must schedule your test through the Tallahassee main office at 850-245-7500 or operator.certification@floridadep.gov.

All upcoming dates and sites may be viewed at: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wff/ocp/docs/OCP-PencilPaperExamSchedulingForm.pdf 

Contact Liz Willard at 850-595-0667 if you have any questions.