FGUA Acquires Mad Hatter Utilities, Inc.

SUMMER 2012 — Pasco County Systems
FGUA Acquires
Mad Hatter Utilities, Inc.
updates & information from your
water and wastewater utility
www.fgua.com
This summer, the Florida Governmental
Utility Authority
(FGUA) purchased the Mad
Hatter Utilities, Inc. and Paradise
Lakes LLC Systems (Mad Hatter) in
central Pasco County. The systems,
located in Lutz and Land ‘O Lakes,
Florida, serve approximately 3,500
water and wastewater utility customers.
The Mad Hatter System is
now the sixth service area within
the FGUA Consolidated Systems,
and the tenth service area served by
the FGUA in Pasco County.
The FGUA has already implemented
several improvement projects
and will increase customer
involvement. Mad Hatter Customers
received a notice with their first
bill on new payment options, including
online bill pay through the
FGUA website at www.fgua.com,
automatic checking withdrawal
(EZ-Pay), and payment over the
phone by credit card. Mad Hatter
customers will also have the opportunity
to join a Utility Advisory
Committee to provide feedback on
capital improvement activity, system
rates, policies and procedures,
and customer service activities. A
Customer Ombudsman is already
available to monitor responsiveness,
address customer concerns
and provide community outreach.
The FGUA will also devote $3.4 million
in capital improvements to
the system in the next five years,
which will improve system reliability,
water pressure, fire flow
protection, supply additional water
supply for future system growth,
as well as increase the capacity of
the wastewater system. Among
the improvements, FGUA will reconnect
and build new interconnections
with Pasco County Utilities,
which will ensure current and
future water supply needs.
Water and Wastewater plant operations
and customer service operations
are provided by the FGUA’s
contract operator, U.S. Water Services/WadeTrim.
Government Services
Group provides System Management
and oversees all of FGUA’s
systems.
New customers with additional
questions may call the FGUA Pasco
Customer Service Office at (727)
372-0115, or visit the FGUA website
at www.fgua.com.
Toilet Rebate Program is Green,
Saves Green for customers
The Florida Governmental Utility Authority, in
coordination with the Southwest Florida
Water Management District, rolled
out the second phase of its Low
Flow Toilet Rebate Program for
most customers in the FGUA
Pasco Utility Systems in June.
The Program provides customers
with credit rebates
for replacing high flow toilets
with new low flow toilets intended
for conserving water.
The 2012 program, cooperatively
funded by the Southwest
Florida Water Management
District, offers up to 220 rebate
credits to customer accounts when
qualifying older conventional toilets are
replaced with Low Flow, Ultra-Low Flow or
EPA Watersense-certified High Efficiency Toilets. Residential customers
must be located in the FGUA Aloha Gardens, Consolidated*, Lindrick,
or Seven Springs systems and must replace toilets that were made or
installed prior to 1995 or use 3.5 gallons per flush or more to be eligible.
Qualifying customers will receive up to a $100 rebate credit for the replacement
of one toilet, and up to an additional $60 for the replacement
of a second toilet.
The program also includes an educational component that provides
customers with information and resources on flapper valves, leak
detection, and other information on water conservation. All program
guidelines, during the application and post-installation inspection of
both the new and old toilets, must be followed to receive the rebate.
Terms and conditions for the program are available on the FGUA website
at: www.fgua.com/conservation. Customers should call 1-800-964-
2140 to determine whether they qualify and to receive an application.
Customers may also contact the FGUA Pasco Systems Office at 727-372-
0115 with any further questions.
*Please note that FGUA’s newest customers, located in the Mad Hatter and
Paradise Lakes communities of the Consolidated Systems, are not eligible
due to SWFWMD grant application limitations, but are expected to be included
in the 2014 program.

FGUA Wastewater Odor Control
Program Underway
This August, the FGUA began its efforts to reduce the frequent odors emitted
from its Seven Springs System Wastewater Treatment Plant in New Port Richey, FL.
The plant, originally built in 1975, is scheduled to receive approximately $800,000
in capital improvements this fall to address the ongoing odor concerns. The
improvements include installing caps on the equalization tanks, which equalize
the flow of wastewater being treated at the plant, and installing an odor control
system to filter odors emitted during the wastewater treatment process. WadeTrim
completed the design and engineering of the scheduled improvements this
spring. The FGUA selected Beach Construction Company, from Gainesville, Florida
in July and held preconstruction meetings with Beach Construction in August.
Improvements will begin in September and will continue through January 2013.
In the meantime, the FGUA will provide monthly updates on the status of the
improvements online at www.fgua.com under the “Pasco” drop down link, “Pasco
Systems” page and link for “Seven Springs.” The FGUA is also closely monitoring
the wastewater treatment plant to minimize the odors as much as possible. The
FGUA appreciates its neighbors’ patience during these improvements. Customers
experiencing odors may report them by calling the FGUA Pasco Customer Service
Office at (727) 372-0115, or e-mail the FGUA at FguaCS_PascoCo@govserv.com.
UPDATES
CONSOLIDATED The FGUA has completed work authorizations for replacing the
hydrotanks serving the Linda Lakes Water Treatment Plant and the Paradise
Lakes Water Treatment Plants in the Mad Hatter service area. The FGUA
anticipates work on the hydrotanks to begin in October.
ALOHA GARDENS SYSTEM The FGUA has relocated five major water lines in the
service area in advance of Pasco County Stormwater Drainage improvements.
In addition, the FGUA installed five shut-off valves in the system to reduce the
amount of customers that may be affected by future precautionary boil water
notice advisories.
SEVEN SPRINGS SYSTEM Beach Construction Company, the contractor selected
to build and complete the Seven Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant odor
control improvements, met with FGUA staff for a preconstruction meeting on
Wednesday, August 8. Beach expects to begin construction of the improvements
in September. Substantial completion is expected in January, with any final
follow up activities scheduled for completion by March 2013.
A SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system is being installed
at the Mitchell Road Water Treatment Plant. The SCADA system will serve as a
monitor and control with the ability to alarm operations staff located off site,
reducing the required amount of staff at the plant site.
LINDRICK SYSTEM The FGUA continues its sewer pipeline replacement and point
repairs. The repairs reduce chloride levels in the FGUA Lindrick Utility System by
reducing salt water infiltration in the lines. The FGUA has completed the first of
the six priority areas requiring pipe repairs or replacement. The replacement and
repairs are occurring during low tide events, typically late at night. Customers in
the remaining priority areas will be notified with door hangers prior to activity
beginning in their area. The FGUA anticipates completion of the replacements
and repairs by October.
The FGUA completed the preliminary design phase for the Chloramine Conversion
Project. Chloramines are chlorine mixed with a small amount of ammonia
added to the water, often referred to as combined chlorine. Chloramines are used
to disinfect drinking water and are used by approximately one quarter of major
water utilities throughout the nation. Many customers report an improvement
in the way their drinking water tastes and smells because they no longer detect
chlorine in the water. The chloramine conversion will also enable the FGUA to
connect to the City of New Port Richey system.
Poster Contest Makes Big Splash
in Local Schools
The FGUA and Pasco County Utilities collaborated again for the third annual
Water Awareness Poster Contest. This year’s theme, “The Adventures
of Drippy: How Does He Get to My Home” described the journey
of water from the ground to customers’ taps and was open to elementary
school students in Pasco County. The contest featured the program mascot,
Drippy, a water droplet who begins deep underground in the Floridan
Aquifer, and travels to customers’ homes. Participation increased over fivefold
from last year, with over 1,100 students participating from six Pasco
County schools. Winners received trophies or rosettes and received prizes
generously donated from program sponsors, including Clearwater Marine
Aquarium, Florida Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry in
Tampa, and Monster Mini Golf in New Port Richey. Contest finalists, honorable
mention participants, and classrooms with high levels of participation
received children’s meal vouchers donated by Chick-Fil-A of Trinity.
This year’s winners are:
1ST GRADE: Jaelyn Slawiak (1st place, Trinity
Oaks Elementary), Christopher Johnson (2nd
place, Trinity Oaks Elementary), and Parker Record
(3rd place, Trinity Oaks Elementary)
2ND GRADE: Morgan Chiary (1st place, Trinity
Oaks Elementary), Caleb King (2nd place, Trinity
Oaks Elementary), and Lauren Kromolicki (3rd
place, Trinity Oaks Elementary)
3RD GRADE: Alexis Wright (1st place, Trinity
Elementary), Caroline Ryzowicz (2nd place,
Trinity Elementary), and Billy Artlip (3rd place,
Trinity Elementary)
4TH GRADE: Abigail Thielbar (1st place, Trinity
Elementary), Vanessa Unger (2nd place, Trinity
Elementary), and Jaylyn Short (3rd place, Calusa
Elementary)
5TH GRADE: Sarah Wasley, (1st place, Trinity
Elementary), Madison McDaniel (2nd place,
Deer Park Elementary), and Abigail McNulty
(3rd Place, Trinity Oaks Elementary)
HONORABLE MENTION: Aliyah Santiago
(Fox Hollow Elementary), Meadow Belden
(Schrader Elementary), and Madison Broshears
(Schrader Elementary)
Slawiak
Chiary
Wright
Winning and finalist posters were on display Thielbar
at the West Pasco Government Center Lobby in
New Port Richey in May. A program summary
and pictures of winning posters and finalists are
also available at the FGUA Website at education.
fgua.com and the Pasco County Utilities website
at www.pascocountyfl.net.
FGUA and Pasco County Utilities appreciate the Wasley
participation and involvement of the schools and
all of its sponsors. Questions regarding the contest or interest in sponsorship
opportunities may be directed to Matt Rihs, Community Service
Representative for the FGUA at (727) 372-0115, or by e-mail at mrihs@
govmserv.com.
FGUA AT YOUR SERVICE
Pasco County Office
727-372-0115
6915 Perrine Ranch Road
New Port Richey, Fl 34655
FguaCS_PascoCo@govserv.com
FLORIDA GOVERNMENTAL UTILITY AUTHORITY Board Members Lea Ann Thomas, Chairperson (863-534-6031); Ken Cheek, Vice Chair (352-527-7647); Michele L. Baker, Vice Chair
(727-847-8115); Douglas L. Meurer (239-479-8779); Shane Parker (863-675-5220); Michael Vuolo (863-491-7500) Alternates Pasco: Bruce E. Kennedy, P.E. (727-847-8115); Lee: Pam
Keyes System Management Robert E. Sheets, System Manager (850-681-3717); Robert Dickson, Capital Program Manager (877-552-3482); Jerry Connolly, Operations Manager (877-552-
3482) Contact Kaamilya Pereira, Clerk to the Board, FGUA Operations Office, Suite 2000, 280 Wekiva Springs Rd, Longwood FL 32779, 877-552-FGUA (3482) Toll Free, 407-629-6900. System
Office & Customer Service Centers Golden Gate: 239-455-1583, Lehigh Acres: 239-368-1615, North Fort Myers: 239-543-1005, Pasco Systems: 727-372-0115 WWW.FGUA.COM
FGUA News Editor: mmiller@govmserv.com