According to a recent report, Fluoride dosing at the City’s West Mitchell Hammock Water Treatment Plant (WMHWTP) has faced intermittent pauses due to equipment issues. Problems began in December 2023 when the facility’s fluoride analyzers, devices crucial for maintaining appropriate chemical levels, started malfunctioning. This situation prompted the city to temporarily cease fluoride dosing, a process that was subsequently restarted but again halted in September 2024 due to reoccurring equipment failure.
The ongoing difficulties have been linked to the analyzers being outdated and unable to sustain dosing rate adjustments post-calibration. Parts for these older models have become scarce, further complicating maintenance efforts. According to the lead operator at WMHWTP, maintenance is usually performed biannually by Hach, the manufacturer. Despite these efforts, the analyzers soon returned to delivering inaccurate readings. In a statement obtained by the City of Oviedo, the lead operator expressed the challenges faced while working with the Hach technician to rectify the situation.
While having a malfunctioning fluoride analyzer poses no immediate emergency, it’s a situation that prevents optimal water treatment processes. The city notified the Department of Health about the non-optimal fluoride feed, as regulations require, yet no permit violation was involved. A pause in fluoride addition does not equate to a non-compliance issue with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), confirming no public safety risk during these paused fluoridations.
Amid concerns over the unreliable equipment, the water treatment facility has tackled several priority maintenance tasks over the past two years. These included replacing a CO2 refrigeration unit, well repairs, security enhancements, and various system upgrades, as listed on the City of Oviedo website.
Original article online at: https://hoodline.com/2025/02/oviedo-water-treatment-plant-battles-recurring-equipment-failures-disrupting-fluoride-dosing/