Water Testing Offers
Please be aware that some of our customers have recently notified us that they were contacted, through letters and phone calls, about drinking water testing from companies not affiliated with the Utilities Commission. Our customers stated they believed these companies were representing the Utilities Commission but, after contacting us, found out they were not.
Our drinking water meets or exceeds water quality standards instituted by all Federal and State regulatory agencies. The testing of our water is done on a daily basis by our staff at our facilities. If you have any questions about your water quality, please contact our Senior Chemist, Curt McKenzie, at 386-424-3184.
About UCNSB Water
UCNSB serves 23,716 water connections within a service area of 41.3 square miles.
The raw water supply for UCNSB is derived from 19 wells obtaining groundwater from the Floridan aquifer. The consumptive use permit (CUP) from St. Johns River Water Management District is 7.13 million gallons per day (MGD) for 2009.
We process approximately 4.6 MGD of water for drinking, and approximately 2.67 MGD of water for reuse on golf courses, medians, and new developments.
Raw water from the well supply is treated at our Class A plant, which is the highest classification level designated by the State. The plant must operate with around the clock personnel 365 days a year. The storage, transmission, and distribution facilities of the water system include over 6 MG of total storage capacity, 5 pumping stations and approximately 234 miles of 6" or larger water mains.
For a copy of the Utilities Commission's 2010 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report in PDF format, CLICK HERE.
Cross Connection/Backflow Prevention
UCNSB has a Cross Connection Program to help ensure that water from outside sources does not enter the distribution system. Our Backflow Technician works full-time to inspect, test, and mitigate cross connections as needed through such tools as backflow preventers.
For more information about cross connections and what you can do to prevent backflow, click here for our informational brochure (PDF).
If you have any questions about your water quality, please contact our Senior Chemist Curt McKenzie via the "Ask Curt Water Hotline" at 386-424-3184.
About Florida's Drinking Water Supply
Florida’s water is one of our most precious resources. We are so fortunate to have as our drinking water source the pure Floridan Aquifer. The Floridan aquifer is the portion of the principal artesian aquifer that extends into Florida, parts of southern Alabama, southeastern Georgia, and southern South Carolina. In Florida it supplies the cities of Daytona, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Ocala, St. Petersburg, and Tallahassee and numerous rural communities.
The principal artesian aquifer is the largest, oldest, and deepest aquifer in the southeastern U.S. Ranging over 100,000 square miles, it underlies all of Florida and the Floridan portion developed millions of years ago during the late Paleocene to early Miocene periods, when Florida was underwater.
But Florida is the fourth largest state in terms of population, and it is predicted that it will takeover New York’s rank of third by the 2010 census. There is concern that our water supply will not be large enough, so the Utilities Commission is undertaking some important studies to determine alternative water sources for the future.
Some of these include working with our adjacent cities and preserving and leveraging our land to store and harvest water for our future needs. We do not receive any tax money and are totally funded through our operations and services.
The St. Johns River Water Management District has required all water suppliers to identify new water sources to augment and ensure water sources for existing and future customers. But individuals can make a difference too. Take a look at your water consumption around your home or business. Small changes can mean lower water usage and lower bills, too! Please check out these websites for information on water conservation.
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