The City of Palm Coast is actively responding to the challenges posed by the current dry conditions, which have led to significantly increased water usage and heightened demands on our water supply. As a result, residents may notice a change in the color of their water, particularly throughout the summer months.
Due to the lack of recent rainfall, the City has been compelled to rely on groundwater wells that are not typically utilized for extended periods. These wells naturally contain higher levels of organic color, which is only marginally reduced during the lime-softening water treatment process at Water Treatment Plant 1. However, it’s important to emphasize that this does not compromise the safety of the water supply. More information about water quality can be found here: https://www.palmcoast.gov/utility/water-faq
The City’s Utility Department is taking proactive measures to mitigate the impact of water coloration on our residents. These include managing the usage of high-color wells, prioritizing their shutdown when demand decreases and water storage needs are met. Additionally, efforts are underway to conserve water by reducing demand, with water pressure leaving the water plants set at 50 psi.
The City is exploring treatment solutions to address the coloration directly at the well sites. Pilot programs are currently being evaluated to determine the effectiveness of these solutions in reducing color levels.
The City of Palm Coast remains committed to ensuring the safety and quality of our water supply, even amidst challenging environmental conditions. We encourage residents to stay informed and cooperate with water conservation efforts as we work together to navigate these circumstances.
To learn more about the city’s water conservation tips, visit https://www.palmcoast.gov/water-tips
Dennis C Rathsam says
TO THE MORONS IN THE CITY COUNCIL & THE MAYOR FROM HELL! IF THERE WERENT SO MUCH NEW HOMES LESS PEOPLE MEAN LESS WATER USE! YOUR ALL AS DUMD AS A BOX OF ROCKS!
JimboXYZ says
Alfin’s environmental catastrophe continues. The article on the drought & the scale rating Flagler is scored at isn’t even a full-on drought for he highest rating of condition. Thanks for growing Palm Coast & ruining the environment. Can see exactly where this is going, we need bigger & better water facilities, more money when the problem is low water. Funny, on “X” Biden was touting that he was going to implement his “Fresh Water for Every American” smoke & mirrors campaign. Back to letting millions more in at the Border Crisis. Growing never was environmentally sustainable, despite what the politicians tell you. Sarcastically rolling my eyes, guess I was wrong again on this too. The color in my water is usually coffee.
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/biden-harris-administration-announces-65-billion-drinking-water-infrastructure
Laurel says
Jimbo: The first half of your comment made sense, then you go back to the same old, same old. Biden has nothing to do with the way Republican Palm Coast is managed.
Marek says
I agree with Laurel. And also with Dennis .
Greed of the City and County commissioners is unthinkable.
Stephen F Rogers says
Greed isn’t red or blue and for those who use that rederic to explain away stupidity and ignorance!!
Celia Pugliese says
Totally agree with Laurel. Nothing to do with Biden but to the contrary Biden could help us if asked to resolve this mess caused by the approved built up without proper infrastructure. While we have a Tallahassee lobbyist for developers for 30 years running this city, the demise of the Palm Coast we moved to wont’ stop! Mr, Flanagan warned us of incoming emergencies if funds were insufficient given growth and what the developer lobbyist did? He removed Mr. Flanagan to the side for telling us like it is and to silence him! If what I believe is wrong, show me the proof as what Mr . Flanagan warned us over 2 months ago is happening now!
That razing of the lands around us continue when we need a moratorium on building to have our infrastructure catch up, just like councilwoman Pontieri wanted! Now we have to use discolored water and neighbors witness low pressure…what is next? Also the sewer smell in some of the areas around us is being reported often…not what ITT envision at all. Greed is working its wait to destroy Palm Coast.
jeffery cortland seib says
Welcome to the future. This is what I have imploring the City Council to begin measures that will insure we have a consistent and reliable water supply for the next, forever. The St. Johns Water Management District has warned us repeatedly that our water system is, as they stated, “at risk”. We are like a vehicle driving too fast in the fog. But we do know what’s head, and yet we are plowing forward. Saltwater intrusion into our wells due to over pumping and rising sea levels for whatever reason should have us scrambling to find new water sources. Like the proverbial ostrich we have our collective heads in the dry sand. let’s hope our water supply does not become dry sands.
The Sour Kraut says
So we barely have enough water now, and yet PFC is still adding thousands of new homes? Brilliant!
Greg says
Water conservation, hard to believe they said that! Build another 12000 or so homes and ask residents to conserve water. You’re out of your damn mind. You are slowly destroying Palm Coast with excessive traffic, poor roads that will never handle the traffic, over building and poor leadership
Laurel says
We have been conserving water for 30 years now. Why?
endangered species says
all the water has been polluted to some degree, they don’t test for the 100 thousand known chemicals and carcinogens. They dont test for PFAs its not profitable. Let companies keep polluting and stop drinking it or use tax money to clean up their mess. Your choice. profits over people
Laurel says
How will the city keep up with the continued out of control growth?
Anyone seen the river today? It’s the nastiest I’ve seen it yet. It’s opaque brown, not tannin from after rain, and has mats of scummy bubbles, a lot of yard waste and accumulation of floating scum. We used to swim in this river. Today, you couldn’t get me to stick my toe in it. It’s disgusting. What happened here? So much for health and safety.
Skibum says
The entire state looks like a big toe, completely surrounded on all sides except for the small land mass at the very top, by SALT WATER, and the ocean, thanks to climate change, is slowly encroaching on more and more coastal land every year. Since the city of Palm Coast is definitely one of the coastal communities that would be adversely impacted if that salt water gets into the ground around where we get our drinking water from, the city needs to not only think long-term about future alternatives, but RIGHT NOW should be much more concerned about the consequences of all of the development that is stretching the limits of the city’s infrastructure, particularly our fresh water supply! It will be a disaster for residents and businesses in and around Palm Coast if our fresh water supplies are decimated by overpopulation AND sea level increases, not to mention the negative impacts it will have on the environment. If communities along the coast wait until it becomes obvious that it is too late to fix the problems we are already aware of, it could become an unmitigated catastrophe for all who live and work in coastal Florida!!!
DAWN says
we have ran out of water 6 months ago and the city and mayor do not care. They are relators what did you all think was going to happen. Even the city employees will tell you we are using reclaimed water
Laurel says
Dawn: Cities use reclaimed water to water plants and grasses, though I wonder if that’s a good idea. Unlike potable water, the pipes are not disinfected every so often. That, too, may become an issue, but we’ll see.
I’m not sure why, but as a kid I thought all water was recycled, both sewer and potable. Then, I was mortified to learn that it was not, and that the Miami Beach hotels were sending out raw sewage to the ocean through large pipes.
Well, get used to it because the recycling of sewage to potable is in our futures. Desalination is another means, but, it too has its drawbacks.
dave says
Every county and city manager in Fla is clueless when it comes to water management. They talk a good game, but as soon as some big developer drops that cash and shopping center/home/appt development plan in front of them they go all $$$$$$$$$$$ and just delay any water management plan and its out the window. Its as plain as day.
FLF says
Total BS, this is completely normal light drought conditions for late spring. I’ve lived here for 55 years so I have history to reflect upon. As others have mentioned we’ve quadrupled the amount of “straws” pulling water out of ground and destroyed recharge areas that would replenish the water table and just turned it into run off. How stupid do you think people are to listen to this crap. Wait till we get the bill for new water treatment plants for another 50,000 peolpe living here. Unfortunatley, this is happening all over the state. Go ahead and blame environmental changes for our problems not the Catterpiller bull dozer and the asphalt machine
HayRide says
the 50,000 new people should burden the additional cost to support their water demands, not existing tax payers
Sherry says
But wait. . . Ole desantis, as well as many who comment here, would tell you that Florida is proven to be the greatest state in the country because there are so many people moving there. Why, the increasing population is one of Florida’s “Claims to Fame”. Everyone is welcome in the sunshine state. . . well, except the black, browns, yellows and non-Christians, right?
Meanwhile, we all continue to flush our toilets with “potable drinking water”. What could possibly go wrong?
Ed P says
Sherry,
Isn’t your toilet in Sausalito, Shangri-La. Do you use reclaimed water?
Florida is a great place to live, but I might be like a pigeon living in New York City- I don’t know any better.
I’ve lived in Cleveland Ohio, Parma Ohio, North Royalton Ohio, Brunswick Ohio, Hanover Park Illinois, Lockport Illinois, Shelton Connecticut, Southbury Connecticut, Chesterfield Virginia, Richmond Virginia, Palm Coast Florida, Las Vegas Nevada, and Pahrump Nevada.
I traveled the continental United States for business 4 days a week for 19 years, Coast to coast including Alaska and Hawaii. I spent time in rural towns and major metro areas. I saw it all, good and bad.
With complete confidence, I can tell you that Florida is very similar to the rest of the country, people are people, and yes everyone is welcome in the Sunshine State, even you when you decide to return home.
Ps last names are normally capitalized-DeSantis
Sherry says
@ed. . . trolling yet again, I see. If you would actually take the time to read the words in my comments, you would see that I said “WE all continue to flush our toilets with potable drinking water”. In addition, you have not been paying attention to the fact that I do not capitalize the names of those I don’t respect.
Skibum says
Sherry, I happen to agree with you on this… but I do capitalize his last name when I want to make a point, and that is why I continue to refer to him as DeathSantis.
Sherry says
Ahhh, I like you so much Skibum! We each protest in our own way. Notice, I didn’t capitalize ed either. LOL!
The same for dennis, jimbo, jake and other “usual suspects” of the mindless, trump MAGA cult.
Sherry says
Ya gotta LOVE DeathSantis. My latest for trump is “Toxic Agent Orange”. . . maybe, just maybe that explains the utter brainlessness and lack of character of his supporters. As dennis says “stupitity”. . . still laughing at that one!
Sherry says
@ed. . . Do you even have a passport?
I like CLEAR water says
I had to refill our pool due to renovations; the water was so green you could not see the white intake in the bottom of the deep end. It is not uncommon to fill a gallon jug, and be able to visibly see the tap water color we have. Only makes our Berkey worky that much harder. If you think just now due to water shortages, that our water has issues, you are deaf dumb and blind. Palm Coasts water is all sorts of greens and browns ALL THE TIME. WTF?
Joseph Barand says
It all started when we paid $80 million for a broken down water system. We now owe more than we paid because of the way it was financed. The riches resulted from this deal are all dead or moved out of Palm Coast. Elected idiots since then have tried to grow their city thinking increasing the population would help pay off the bond issued to finance the purchase. Wrong because the allowed builder and out of state developers run slipknot without paying for the growth they created. The corruption in this city exceeds anyone ability to comprehend. Rather than voting here crooks out of office we should be throwing them all in jail. Check the folies, cars, boats, bank accounts and investment portfolios all previously elected officials and you will see the next bonds e need to float are to build new prisons to house these crooks.
James says
@Myself
Surprised?… Not.
Just say’n.
Michael Morris says
Safety and quality of the water supply yes, the main problem now is quantity. They are running every well they have every day and 2 to 3 days a week it’s not enough. The other 4 or 5 days they are refilling storage capacity. Try running anything 24/7 indefinitely and see how long it lasts. The well field for Plants 1 and 2 are recharged by rainfall, with even a moderate drought the water table goes down further reducing the pumping capacity.
There is no quick solution for the Plants right now. Adding capacity takes time and people in Utility departments have been pushing for it for years. Others for whatever reason didn’t do what was needed.
Yes, some rain would help. But not too much because the Wastewater side is probably in worse shape. They are running at capacity or above and during a heavy rain event rainwater enters their system. Anyone who’s been here for a while has seen the pumping trucks lined up at lift stations throughout the city. They need to expand significantly also and between the 2 systems we’re not talking tens of millions add a zero.
Laurel says
Isn’t planning wonderful? Ah, realtors in charge. What a novel idea. The sad thing is that Flagler County had all kinds of time to learn, both good and mistakes from others. Nope! And on it goes…”Westward Ho!” or some such short sighted nonsense.
Hammock Huck says
Keep building and adding to the already strained environment. The elected officials are hellbent on destroying the county.