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WATER QUALITY REPORT|STORMWATER PIPE PROJECT|FERTILIZER BAN
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Drop Savers Contest Winners Awarded at Council Meeting |
To celebrate National Drinking Water Week, Mayor Paul Alfrey issued a proclamation at the April 28 city council meeting naming the week of May 3-9 as a time to encourage residents and businesses to protect our source water from pollution and to practice water conservation. At the meeting, five students from different age divisions were presented with awards for their winning Drop Savers Poster Contest entries. The contest is sponsored by the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (FSAWWA). The City provided the students Target gift cards as awards for winning their school’s contest and for being the overall winners for their age divisions.
 Mayor Paul Alfrey and council members with the Drop Saver's contest winners
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Monthly Water Usage and Raw/Finished Water Quality Statistics
April 2026 Water Usage
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WATER QUALITY STATISTICS
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Water pumped to service: 492,003,000 gallons or 16.400 MGD average
Maximum finished water pumped to service: 17.509 MGD on April 30, 2026
Water quality flushing: 39,582,820 gallons
Committed capacity: 2.0314 MGD
Capacity available for development: 5.0626 MGD (Based on 12-month average daily flow)
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Lake Water
Lake level: 13.92 feet above MSL on March 31, 2026 (Prior month comparison: 13.84 feet on February 28, 2026)
pH: 7.6
Alkalinity: 69 mg/L
Total hardness: 136 mg/L
Chlorides: 103 mg/L
Color: 171
Total dissolved solids (TDS): 354
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Well Water
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Finished Water - Pumped to Service
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pH: 7.3
Alkalinity: 123 mg/L
Total hardness: 569 mg/L
Chlorides: 680 mg/L
Color: 5
Total dissolved solids (TDS): 1535
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pH: 8.6
Alkalinity: 64 mg/L
Total hardness: 97 mg/L
Chlorides: 88 mg/L
Color: 1
Total dissolved solids (TDS): 367
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There will be a link provided in all the utility bills being sent out during June, July and August for the City’s annual water quality report, also known as the consumer confidence report (CCR). The report covers the results of water testing during 2025. To view the report online, click the button below. A paper copy will be available at Melbourne’s City Hall, other city halls in the water distribution area, civic centers and many of the area libraries by June 1. It can also be requested by contacting the ECO Division at 321-608-5080 or by emailing waterqualityreport@mlbfl.org.
The report provides consumers with fundamental information about their drinking water. Some of the information covered includes:
•The sources of our drinking water.
•How to get a copy of the water system’s complete source water assessment.
•The water system’s compliance with other drinking water related rules.
The front cover of the printed 2026 Water Quality Report features artwork by one of the winners of the 2026 Drop Savers Poster Contest.
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April 2026 Data
WATER DISTRIBUTION
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WASTEWATER COLLECTION
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METER SERVICES
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- Main breaks: 19
- Service line repairs: 47
- Service line replacements: 18
- Hydrants serviced/repaired: 50
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- Feet of sewer lines cleaned: 18,890 ft.
- Feet of sewer lines inspected: 11,550 ft.
- Reuse locates: 357
- Manhole inspections: 1,185
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- Regular water turn ons: 501
- Low pressure complaints: 8
- Misc. calls/checks: 50
- Check leaks: 42
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Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration at Sherwood Park
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In celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day, the City of Melbourne Parks & Recreation Department partnered with the ECO Division to host an engaging, hands-on environmental event at Sherwood Park on April 24.
The event brought together 58 third-grade students and teachers from Sherwood Elementary School for an interactive learning experience. Students rotated through four activity stations focused on environmental education.
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After a snack break, participants contributed directly to the park’s landscape by planting a Tabebuia tree, generously donated by 4 C's Nursery. This hands-on activity reinforced the importance of urban forestry and long-term environmental stewardship.
The celebration extended beyond the students, as the city also distributed 90 tree saplings to community members; encouraging residents to plant trees on their own properties and further expand the city’s green canopy.
Overall, the event blended education, community involvement, and tangible environmental impacts, highlighting how local initiatives can foster both awareness and action.
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New Stormwater Pipe Installation in Sweetwood Neighborhood |
A major drainage improvement project has been completed in the Sweetwood neighborhood that is expected to significantly reduce stormwater problems for residents.
During past heavy rain events, Streets and Stormwater Division crews needed to install and operate two pumps to manage standing water and prevent street flooding in the neighborhood.
This project provides a long-term solution. Work began on May 5 and was officially completed on May 11. The project included the design and installation of new drainage pipe systems, completed entirely in-house by the City Engineering Department, and the Streets and Stormwater Division's labor and equipment.
The total cost of the project was approximately $8,500. This included:
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A concrete mitered end costing roughly $190
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Five pallets of sod totaling approximately $500
The investment does not include the additional value of labor, equipment usage, or crew time dedicated to the project.
Jason Kies, Assistant Streets Superintendent, said that the new pipe installation should eliminate the need to transport and operate pumps throughout the summer whenever heavy rain occurs. The improvements are also expected to help prevent the stormwater system from backing up during severe weather events.
For additional information about the project, community members are encouraged to contact the City of Melbourne Engineering Department at 321-608-7300.
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Fertilizer Ban Begins June 1 |
The fertilizer ban goes into effect June 1 and runs until September 30. The ban is in effect as a measure to protect the Indian River Lagoon.
The summer months are typically the wettest. By not fertilizing during this time, some of the nutrient laden runoff will be prevented from entering the stormwater system.
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Residents are also reminded that it is illegal to blow grass clippings into streets and storm drains at any time of the year. Instead, clippings should be blown back into yards or composted.
Penalties include a fine of $200 for violating either of these ordinances.
For More Information
- Call the Stormwater Hotline: (321) 608-7341.
How to Keep Your Yard Looking Great Without Fertilizer
Expert gardeners know that by making a few small changes to better adapt a lawn to Florida’s hot, humid climate, they only need to fertilize twice a year at most – in April and October. Follow these tips, and your yard and garden will look like the pros:
- Get better plants. Plants adapted to Florida’s hot, humid climate need less water and fertilizer year-round. Ask your native garden centers or the Brevard County Extension office about how to go Florida-friendly or, better yet, native, and you’ll reduce your water bill and pay less for fertilizer.
- Put your lawn on a diet. Replace a corner of your lawn with shrubs, small trees or an easy-to-maintain groundcover like Sunshine Mimosa or Perennial Peanut. Expand your landscape beds a little bit at a time, and before you know it you’ll be devoting your weekends to relaxing instead of mowing, weeding and edging.
- Create nutrient-rich soil. Use your own compost to enrich your soil. It’s better than anything you can buy — and it’s free.
- Get more environmentally friendly yard care advice from these websites:
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Wastewater Treatment Operational Summary and Reuse Statistics
April 2026 Data
D.B. LEE
WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY
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- Treated this month: 131.66 million gallons (MG)
- Treated daily: 4.39 million gallons/Day (MGD)
- Reuse production - total monthly flow: 53.15 MG
- Reuse average daily flow: 1.83 MGD
- Reuse number of days run: 29
- Plant efficiency, BOD removal: 99.40 %
- Committed capacity: 1.925 MGD
- Remaining capacity available for development: 0.425 MGD
- Rainfall: 5.76 inches over 9 days
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FPL commercial demand reduction credit: $5,937.75 (3/18/26 - 4/16/26) |
GRANT ST.
WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY
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- Treated this month: 94.42 MG
- Treated daily: 3.15 MGD
- Reuse production - total monthly flow: 19.66 MG
- Reuse average daily flow: 0.66 MGD
- Reuse number of days run: 30
- Plant efficiency, BOD removal: 94.76%
- Committed capacity: 0.606 MGD
- Remaining capacity available for development: 0.264 MGD
- Rainfall: 4.55 inches over 6 days
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FPL commercial demand reduction credit: $3,812.25 (3/20/26 - 4/20/26) |
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A total of 72.81 million gallons of reclaimed water was produced during April, representing 32% of total plant flows. |
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The City of Melbourne is joining public agencies across the country in celebrating the dedication and contributions of public works and utilities professionals during National Public Works Week, May 17-23.
Public works and utilities professionals are engineers, managers and employees at all levels of government and the private sector who rebuild, improve and protect our nation’s transportation, water supply, water treatment and solid waste systems, public buildings, and other essential structures, facilities and fleets.
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The more than 200 employees of the City of Melbourne Public Works and Utilities Department work hard each and every day to provide the services that keep our community functioning, including drinking water production and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, reclaimed water distribution, streets and stormwater management, facilities and fleet.
Since 1960, the American Public Works Association has sponsored National Public Works Week in order to energize and educate the public on the importance of public works to their daily lives. National Public Works Week is a great time to learn more about the many essential services that public works and utilities professionals provide our community and to thank these dedicated employees for their commitment and hard work.
Check out the City of Melbourne Facebook page and X account throughout the week for posts highlighting the outstanding work and service our staff provides to the community.
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WATER PROJECTS
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WATER RECLAMATION/SEWER PROJECTS
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STREETS & STORMWATER PROJECTS
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Under Construction:
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Under Construction:
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Under Construction:
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- Filter drain improvements at the SWTP, $21,911,000
- Pineda Booster Station chemical feed and storage, $1,423,700
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- Lift Station No. 42 rehabilitation/replacement, $697,525
- Biosolids improvements at D.B. Lee & Grant Street WRFs, $28,247,000
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- Apollo Blvd. baffle box
- D.B. Lee stormwater piping project
- Espanola Way baffle box
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Under Design, Study or in Bid Process:
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Under Design, Study or in Bid Process:
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Under Design, Study or in Bid Process:
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- RO water treatment plant expansion
- Water main from Lake Washington to the distribution system
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- Engineering services for the design and construction of the Grant Street WRF improvement project
- Force main replacements associated with Lift Station No. 63
- Gravity sewer inverted siphon elimination
- Western force main, phase 2
- Western force main, phase 3A
- Force main from Lift Station #6 to Mosquito Ditch phase 1
- Lift Station No. 55 Replacement
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- Spring Creek baffle box
- Darrow Baffle Box
- Riverview Baffle Box
- Line Street Cemetery Baffle Box
- Melbourne Cemetery Baffle Box
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For more information about this newsletter, please contact the Melbourne Environmental Community Outreach Division at (321) 608-5080 or send an e-mail to megan.ruben@mlbfl.org
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