TITUSVILLE, Fla. — Titusville began a controlled release of treated reclaimed water into the Indian River Lagoon Monday morning after heavy overnight rainfall overwhelmed the city’s wastewater system, officials said.
The release started around 6:30 a.m. Nov. 2 at the Osprey Water Reclamation Facility. City officials said it was necessary to prevent wastewater from backing up into homes, businesses and streets.
Residents are being asked to limit nonessential water use, including laundry, dishwashers and long showers, until further notice.
Rainfall pushes system to capacity
Flows from the Osprey facility to the Blue Heron Water Reclamation Facility reached full capacity, according to the city.
Utility staff exhausted available operational options for managing the additional flow before beginning the release, officials said.
The water is entering the lagoon near the Osprey facility.
City says released water is fully treated
The city said the discharge is treated reclaimed water that completed the facility’s full treatment process, including filtration and disinfection.
Officials said the released water is not raw sewage.
The statement did not specify how much water had been released or how long the discharge was expected to continue.
Residents asked to reduce water use
City staff are monitoring flows and system conditions around the clock and plan to stop the release as soon as conditions safely allow.
Officials said they are notifying the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and completing required reporting and water-quality sampling.
Reducing water use at home will help limit the amount entering the wastewater system, according to the city.
Updates will be posted on Titusville’s website and its official social media channels. Residents with questions can contact Public Works Water Reclamation at 321-567-3891.
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