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Facilities
George French Water Reclamation Facility (WRF)
- Design Capacity at 200 mg/l BOD is 6 mgd.
- Treatment Process includes mechanical treatment with rotating screens, grit separation, and equalization basin.
- Biological Treatment via 4 – 1 mgd and 1 – 2 mgd oxidation ditches followed by clarification.
Secondary disinfection with chlorine contact chambers. - Secondary effluent is then further treated to produce reclaimed water by flocculation, filtration, and high level disinfection with chlorine contact chambers.
- Secondary effluent disposal to rapid infiltration basins. Reclaimed water is reused for landscape irrigation of shopping centers, condominium complexes, golf courses, parks, individual residences, and plant washdown and grounds irrigation.
- Wet weather storage is provided by three ground storage tanks with 6.6 mg capacity.
- Biosolids disposal is by land application.
Drinking Water Supply
The Floridan Aquifer supplies all drinking required by Destin Water Users, Inc. DWU operates five coastal wells. These wells are currently under mandated cutbacks. Additional water supply capacity is provided by a remote wellfield developed jointly with South Walton Utility Company, Inc. These inland wells are also completed in the Floridan. The combination of coastal and inland wells provide the capacity needed to supply the needs of our build-out population. DWU and SWUC recently completed a desalinization study that shows that method of water supply is very feasible. This particular study updated a similar study completed in 1997 and shows a definite decline in cost of the water and also firmly established the feasibility for the future.
DWU has three elevated storage tanks and one ground storage tank. Together with standby power at our wells, capability to handle all peak hour and fire flow demands is available.
Reclaimed Water Operation
The majority of all wastewater returned to our wastewater reclamation facility is treated and sent back out for beneficial reuse. Most of this reclaimed water is reused for landscape irrigation with a significant amount being used each day for in-plant operations. The DWU reclaimed water operation began in 1985, making it one of the most mature operations in Florida.
CIS/Billing/Metering
DWU uses custom software for its customer information system and billing systems. Bills are computed and mailed monthly. Beginning in 2008, DWU will commence two billing cycles. Residential meters were all converted to radio read beginning in 2007. Currently all meters 2” and up are tested annually for accuracy. Beginning in 2008, DWU will begin a residential meter testing and replacement program. A recent study of our small meters show an annual “loss” exceeding 4% of our produced water.