AWWA ACE92079

The City of Altamonte Springs, Florida, has developed a progressive reclaimed water program entitled Project Apricot. The goal of this urban water reuse program is to make reclaimed water available to all properties within the City by the year 1995. Project Apricot provides significant water conservation and environmental enhancement benefits. Funded by municipal bonds, the capital cost of the system is being recovered through connection fees, availability fees and usage rates. Reclaimed water is provided for a variety of non-potable uses, most notably irrigation of residential, commercial and public properties. Protection of public health is a primary objective of Project Apricot. Health protection measures include state of the art treatment processes, strict control of reclaimed water usage, stringent system identification and operation procedures and detailed inspections of properties to prevent potable water cross connections. The City encourages the use of reclaimed water through a comprehensive public relations and connection coordination program, and minimizes the impact of system construction through installation specifications that feature trenchless construction and rapid restoration requirements. This paper examines the major factors which the City has effectively managed to ensure the project's success. It begins with a discussion of how the system was conceived and financed, examines the actions taken to protect public health, and concludes with an analysis of the various techniques used to encourage water reuse within the City.