A Message From the Director

This 2018 Water Quality Report contains detailed information about your drinking water, the steps we take to ensure its safety, the results of the sampling and testing we conducted between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018, and how we are working to conserve this resource for future generations.

At the Cocoa Utilities Department, our top priority is delivering clean, safe, great-tasting water to our customers. Our primary source of water is from the Intermediate and Floridan Aquifers, a well- protected ground water source located hundreds of feet underground.

We supplement our groundwater supply with surface water drawn from the Taylor Creek Reservoir. The Taylor Creek Reservoir is located three miles from the Claude H. Dyal Water Treatment Plant. It was constructed in the 1960s as part of the original federal Central and Southern Florida Flood Control Project.

Our state certified water lab conducts thousands of chemical and bacteriological water quality tests each year. Our lab technicians test for more than 135 regulated and unregulated substances including lead and copper. A summary of that testing is included in this report.

The Cocoa Utilities Department is committed and serious about the work we do to provide safe, high-quality, great-tasting water, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, today and for generations to come.

John A. Walsh, P.E. Utilities Director

How to Obtain a Copy of This Report

This water quality report, also known as a Consumer Confidence Report, is produced annually in accordance with both federal and state requirements.

This report will be mailed to customers only upon request by calling (321) 433-8705. It is also available at Cocoa City Hall, 65 Stone St., Cocoa, FL 32922 and all public libraries in our water service area. For more information about this report, for questions relating to your drinking water, or for additional hard copies of this report,

please view www.cocoafl.org/waterqualityreport, call (321) 433-8705, or email ddowns@cocoafl. org. You can obtain additional information from the EPA at their Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800- 426-4791).

Cocoa Water

Whenever you enjoy a cool, refreshing drink of Cocoa’s great-tasting water, you can feel secure that Cocoa’s water meets all federal and state requirements for drinking water. The Cocoa Utilities Department is pleased to have the opportunity, with this Water Quality Report, to present to you information about our excellent water and the services that we provide.

Cocoa provides water to approximately 84,000 customers in Cocoa, Rockledge, Port St. John, Merritt Island, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Suntree/Viera, Patrick AFB, and the Kennedy Space Center. Serving a population of about 250,000.

The Cocoa Utilities Department is dedicated to providing our customers with premium drinking water and professional service. Our facilities are staffed with state-certified professionals to ensure that your drinking water is reliable and meets all safe drinking water standards.

As part of our commitment to excellence, we perform continuous testing and monitoring of your drinking water from our raw water supply, through the treatment process at our Dyal Water Treatment Plant (WTP), until it’s delivered to your home.

The Cocoa Utilities Department values the trust you put in us every day and we are grateful for your support throughout the year.

Water Supply Sources

Groundwater Treatment

Cocoa’s primary water source is groundwater pumped from the Intermediate and Floridan Aquifers. Cocoa has supplied central Brevard County with high quality drinking water since 1957. Our drinking water system processed just over 7.38 billion gallons of water last year, with a peak flow of 24.76 million gallons per day (MGD) during the month of March. The Average daily flow was 20.23 MGD during 2018. Cocoa supplements its ground water supply with surface water from the Taylor Creek Reservoir and Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) wells. In 2018, The Dyal WTP treated 6.49 billion gallons of groundwater and 0.89 billion gallons of surface water. The Dyal WTP injected 0.32 billion gallons into the ASR wells and recovered 0.07 billion gallons of water.

Groundwater treatment begins when raw water from our wellfields is pumped to our water treatment facility, the Claude H. Dyal Water Treatment Plant. The plant operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week to meet the needs of our water customers.

Ground water enters the plant where chlorine, lime, soda ash, and coagulant are added to remove hardness and suspended solids. Fluoride is then added to the water in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency/Center For Disease Control guidelines. Carbon dioxide is

added to reduce the pH and to stabilize the water. Chloramination is used to disinfect the water after it passes through filters containing sand and anthracite coal and enters the clearwell. Turbidity (cloudiness) is constantly measured at each filter.

Surface Water Treatment

The Dyal WTP is unusual for Central Florida because it can treat both ground and surface water. Water from the Taylor Creek Reservoir is a supplemental source for Cocoa’s water supply.

Surface water requires a different type of treatment. After surface water enters the plant, ferric sulfate, hydrated lime, and a polymer are added. Ozone is injected into clarified water for disinfection, taste and odor removal. After adding ozone, the water is treated with hydrated lime, carbon dioxide, chlorine and ammonia before passing through sand and anthracite coal filters. Turbidity is constantly measured at each filter.

The surface water treatment plant was built alongside the existing ground water treatment plant and came on-line in October 1999. Water from both processes is blended and then pumped into storage tanks before it is sent into the distribution system and to your home or business.

Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Wells

Cocoa has 10 ASR wells at the Dyal Water Treatment Plant for the storage of finished, treated water. This is a system of wells that stores finished water safely underground. During periods of high demand this high quality water can be pumped to the head of the plant or to the ground storage tanks.

Source Water Assessment

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) began conducting a statewide assessment of drinking water systems in 2004. The Source Water Assessment Program provides local leaders, water suppliers, and citizens with the information necessary to protect public drinking water sources from contamination.

Ground Water

In 2018 the Florida Department of Environmental Protection performed a Source Water Assessment

on our system. The assessment was conducted to provide information about any potential sources of contamination in the vicinity of our wells. FDEP identified 27 unique sources of contamination with a range of low to moderate risk. The assessment results are available on the FDEP Source Water Assessment and Protection Program website at https://fldep.dep.state.fl.us/swapp/ or they can be obtained by contacting the Conservation/Public Relations Officer at (321)

433-8705, or emailing ddowns@cocoafl.org.

Surface Water

In 2018, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection performed a Source Water Assessment on our system. The assessment was conducted to provide information about any potential sources of contamination in the vicinity of our surface water intakes. The surface water system is considered to be at high risk because of the many potential sources of contamination present in the assessment area. The assessment results are available on the FDEP Source Water Assessment and Protection Program website at https://fldep.dep.state.fl.us/swapp/ or they can be obtained by contacting the Conservation/ Public Relations Officer at (321) 433-8705, or emailing ddowns@cocoafl.org.

Cocoa Utilities Department Capital Improvement Program

No resource is more critical than water and the infrastructure that delivers it. We cannot exist without water systems that safely and reliably deliver water to our taps. Of all the infrastructure that we, as a community must maintain, none is more important than a reliable water network that receives regular investment and is continually improved.

The Cocoa Utilities Department’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) was developed to

provide a perspective of the utility’s long-term capital needs. The CIP is a planning process used to identify, quantify and assess capital improvement needs over a five-year time period.

The focus of the CIP is to preserve and improve the water system infrastructure while ensuring the efficient use of public funds. The following are some recent or ongoing CIP projects:

Pineda Water Main Crossing

Project Scope: Installation of 17,000 feet of 16- inch pipe across the Indian River, Merritt Island, and the Banana River near the Pineda Causeway to improve hydraulic, water quality and resiliency. Cocoa and Melbourne are working together to build two, parallel, 16-inch water mains. The project is estimated to take four years to complete with the design phase currently underway.

Budget Amount: $11,032,260

Schedule: Design Complete, October 2019

Dyal Chemical Conversion & Reliability Improvements (CCRIP)

Project Scope: Convert chlorine gas and anhydrous ammonia to sodium hypochlorite and ammonium sulfate, provide a redundant high service pumping facility, new generators & new maintenance/training building.

Budget Amount: $2,959,749

Schedule: Design Complete, November 2019

Raw Water Pipeline Well 17 to 15

Project Scope: Design and installation of a new 24-inch raw water line between Wells #15 and #17 to improve reliability and resiliency. Budget Amount: $1,997,743

Schedule: Design Complete, August 2019

Chase Hammock / N Tropical Trail Looping Improvements

Project Scope: This project, currently under construction, involves the installation of 3,200 feet of 8-inch water main on North Tropical Trail and upsizing 3,360 feet of the existing water main on Chase Hammock Road from 4-inch and 6-inch pipe to 8-inch pipe. This will improve hydraulics, fire flow and water quality in North Merritt Island. Budget Amount: $1,348,779

Schedule: Completion, November 2019

SR 520 Water Main Replacement

Project Scope: This project will replace 2,400 feet of 8-inch and 6-inch cast iron pipe with new 8- inch pipe along SR 520 in the Cocoa Village area to improve fire flows and service.

Budget Amount: $1,674,273

Schedule: Construction Start, July 2019

Water Quality

Continuing Our Commitment

Cocoa’s Claude H. Dyal Water Treatment Plant routinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State Laws, rules, and regulations. This report is based on the results of our monitoring for the period of January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018. Any data that was obtained before January 1, 2018 and presented in this report are from the most

recent testing performed in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations.

Our NELAC (National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference) certified laboratory analyzes water quality throughout the treatment process and distribution system to ensure safe drinking water is delivered to our customers. We remain vigilant in meeting the challenges of source water protection, water conservation, and community education while continuing to serve the needs of all of our water users.

Community Involvement is Encouraged

Interested customers are welcome to attend Cocoa’s regularly scheduled Council meetings held on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month. Please contact the City Clerk at (321) 433- 8488 to confirm day, time, and location of the meeting.

The Utilities Advisory Board meets quarterly (January/April/July/October). The Utilities Advisory Board advises the City Council on matters relating to utility subjects. Please contact the City Clerk at (321) 433-8488 to confirm day, time, and location of the meeting.

Questions?

For information about water quality or questions about this report, or to obtain paper copies of this report call (321) 433-8705 or email ddowns@cocoafl.org.

Water Quality Testing Results

Definitions

In the following table you may find unfamiliar terms and abbreviations. To help you better understand these terms we've provided the following definitions:

Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG:

The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

Initial Distribution System Evaluation (IDSE):

An important part of the Stage 2 Disinfection By- Products Rule (DBPR). The IDSE is a one-time study conducted by water systems to identify distribution system locations with high concentrations of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Water systems will use results from the IDSE, in conjunction with their Stage 1 DBPR compliance monitoring data, to select compliance monitoring locations for the Stage 2 DBPR.

Locational Running Annual Average (LRAA):

The average of sample analytical results for samples taken at a particular monitoring location during the previous four calendar quarters.

Maximum residual disinfectant level or MRDL: The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for

control of microbial contaminants.

Maximum residual disinfectant level goal or MRDLG: The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

Million fibers per liter (MFL): Measure of the presence of asbestos fibers that are longer than 10 micrometers.

Millirem per year (mrem/yr): Measure of radiation absorbed by the body.

Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU): Measure of the clarity of water. Turbidity in excess of 5 NTU is just noticeable to the average person.

“ND”: Means not detected and indicates that the substance was not found by laboratory analysis.

Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter (µg/l): One part by weight of analyte to 1 billion parts by weight of the water sample.

Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/l): One part by weight of analyte to 1 million parts by weight of the water sample.

Parts per quadrillion (ppq) or Picograms per liter (picograms/l): One part by weight of analyte to 1 quadrillion parts by weight of the water sample.

Parts per trillion (ppt) or Nanograms per liter (nanograms/l): One part by weight of analyte to 1 trillion parts by weight of the water sample.

Picocurie per liter (pCi/L): Measure of the radioactivity in water.

Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

Footnotes

1. The result in the lowest monthly percentage column is the lowest monthly percentage of samples reported in the Monthly Operating Report meeting the required turbidity limits.
   Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system. High turbidity can hinder the effectiveness of disinfectants.
2. Results in the Level Detected column for radioactive, inorganic contaminants, and unregulated contaminants are the highest average at any of the sampling points or the highest detected level at any sampling point, depending on the sampling frequency.
3. For Chlorine and Bromate, the Level Detected is the highest running annual average (RAA), computed quarterly, of monthly averages of all samples collected. All of the 2018’s TTHM and HAA5 samples were collected under “Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection By-Products”. Range of Results is the range of individual sample results (lowest to highest) for all monitoring locations.
4. The monthly TOC removal ratio is the ratio between the actual TOC removal and the required TOC rule removal requirements.

5. Results in the Level Detected column for radioactive, inorganic contaminants, and unregulated contaminants are the highest average at any of the sampling points or the highest detected level at any sampling point, depending on the sampling frequency.
6. Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection By- Products includes results from 2017 for LRAA calculation. Level Detected is the highest Locational running annual average (LRAA) for any given sample location during 2018. Range of Results is the range of individual sample results (lowest to highest) for all monitoring locations for 2018.
7. The Cocoa Utilities Department has been monitoring for unregulated contaminants (UCs) as part of a study to help the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determine the occurrence in drinking water of UCs and whether or not these contaminants need to be regulated. At present, no health standards (for example, maximum contaminant levels) have been established for UCs. However, we are required to publish the analytical results of our UC monitoring in our annual water quality report. If you would like more information on the EPA’s Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring Rule, please call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Monitoring and reporting (M/R) of compliance data violation

Due to administrative oversight during a busy part of the year, our office failed to submit 1st, 2nd, and 4th quarter disinfection byproduct monitoring reports in a timely manner. Samples were collected on time, but the reports were submitted late. This violation has no impact on the quality of the water our customers received, and it posed no risk to public health. We have established a report tracking file to ensure that all reporting requirements are met in the future.

We are required to collect dual samples for TTHMs and HAA5s at 12 locations in the distribution system. Samples must be collected on the same day. During the 1st quarter 2018, three locations were sampled for only TTHMs, which resulted in a missed monitoring violation.

HAA5s make-up samples were collected a month later at the same locations. All results were below the Maximum Contaminant Level. We have taken measures to ensure this doesn’t happen again in the future.

EPA Information

Cryptosporidium in Drinking Water

Cryptosporidium is a microbial parasite found in surface water throughout the United States. We detected Cryptosporidium in the untreated surface water. We detected this contaminant in two out of 25 samples tested in 2006 through 2008. Although filtration removes Cryptosporidium, the most commonly used filtration methods cannot guarantee 100% removal. Ozone is a powerful disinfectant that effectively destroys Cryptosporidium. The City of Cocoa ozonates all surface water before it is filtered to ensure the highest possible removal rate.

The City of Cocoa sampled Taylor Creek Reservoir for Cryptosporidium in accordance with Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)’s Long Term 2 (LT2) Enhanced Surface Water Treatment rule. This rule requires that the city sample for Cryptosporidium to provide a baseline for the amount of Cryptosporidium in Taylor Creek Reservoir. This baseline will be used by the EPA to increase treatment techniques or allow established techniques to continue to treat the surface water. Compliance sampling began in October 2006 and ended in October 2008. We began testing for LT2 compliance again in March, 2015 and completed sampling in March, 2017.

We believe it is important for you to know that Cryptosporidium may cause serious illness in immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders. These people should seek advice from their health care providers.

Lead and Drinking Water

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The Cocoa Utilities Department is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting

for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791) or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

Contaminants that may be present in the source water

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

1. Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
2. Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.
3. Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
4. Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.
5. Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations, which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Food and Drug Administration

(FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Important Health Information

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Water Conservation

4 Reasons Why Water Conservation is Important Everyone

Reason #1: It minimizes the effects of drought and water shortages. Even though our need for fresh water sources is always increasing because of population and industry growth, the supply we have stays constant. Even though water eventually returns to Earth through the water cycle, it's not always returned to the same spot, or in the same quantity and quality. By reducing the amount of water we use, we can better protect against future drought years.

Reason #2: Using less water keeps money in your pocket. By utilizing basic water conservation techniques you are able to save thousands of gallons of water each year. You do the math, use less water and the water company

charges you less money. That sounds like a good deal all around.

Reason #3: Conserving water can also save energy. Energy is required to run the equipment that treats and pumps the water from water treatment plant into your home or office. So saving water means using less energy which reduces your carbon footprint and helps the country become more energy independent.

Reason #4: Saving water helps to preserve our environment. Reducing our water usages reduces the energy required to process and deliver it to homes, businesses, farms, and communities, which, in turn, helps to reduce pollution and conserve fuel resources. In some cases, using excess amounts of water puts a strain on septic and sewage systems.

Water conservation measures are an important first step in protecting our water supply. Such measures help to preserve the supply of our source water and also save you money by reducing your water bill.

Other ways that you can help conserve water can be found at www.cocoafl.org/conservation, www.sjrwmd.com/water-conservation/ or http://water.epa.gov/action/protect/.

Environmental Protection

You can help protect water quality. Quick things you can do!

Protecting drinking water sources requires the combined efforts of many partners. We can all do our part by:

• Using and disposing of harmful materials properly.
• Not over using pesticides or fertilizers.
• Not flushing unused/unwanted medications down toilets or sink drains.

We at the Cocoa Utilities Department would like you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources. We are committed to insuring the quality of your water. If you have any questions or concerns about the information provided please feel free to call 321- 433-8705 or email ddowns@cocoafl.org.