Secretos del Ingeniero de Mezcla: Eric Valentine

FKAA has a unique water system that extends some 130 miles from Florida City to Key West and is only approximately 3 miles wide at its widest point. Exhibit 1-1 shows transmission mains, pumping facilities, ground storage tanks, and water treatment facilities.

5.1

Existing Transmission System

The original transmission main was an 18-inch-diameter steel pipeline that was constructed by the U.S. Navy in the early 1940s to transport potable water from the WTP at Florida City to the Naval Facilities in Key West. This transmission main served as the sole pipeline to trans- port potable water to the Keys until the early 1980s when increasing water demands required upgrades to the transmission system.

The current transmission system in the Middle and Upper Keys consists of 36-inch- and 30-inch-diameter transmission mains along U.S. 1 and a 12-inch-diameter transmission main along Route 905 to Ocean Reef. These transmission mains were constructed in the early 1980s. The current transmission system continues with 24-inch-diameter trans- mission mains that were constructed in the Lower Keys in the late 1980s and mid-1990s. Approximately 52 miles of the original 18-inch-diameter transmission main are still in service and supplement the newer 36-inch- to 24-inch-diameter transmission mains to meet the increasing water demands of the Florida Keys.

The water transmission system begins at the high-service pumps at the J. Robert Dean WTP in Florida City. This plant pumps water into the transmission main at an operating pressure of 250 pounds per square inch (psi) to transmit it approximately 130 miles through the Keys to Key West. The transmission operating pressure of 250 psi is maintained in the transmission system by using booster pump stations in Key Largo (under construction), Long Key, Marathon, and Ramrod Key. The water transmission system supplies water to all of the many distribution systems throughout the Keys (see Section 6). The high-pressure trans- mission system terminates at the four 5 MG ground storage tanks on Stock Island. However, the transmission system continues on through Key West at a lower operating pressure of between 50 and 75 psi to supply water to the Key West Distribution Pump Station. The trans- mission system between Stock Island and the Key West Distribution Pump station is the original 18-inch-diameter steel transmission main.

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Because of the length and uniqueness of its water system, FKAA has a large amount of water storage capacity, both transmission storage and distribution storage (see Exhibit 1-1 for storage facility locations).

The Stock Island Backpump Station with its 20 MG storage facilities, which is considered part of the transmission system, and the Marathon Booster Pump Station, with its 3 MG storage facilities, provide FKAA with the ability to back-pump into the transmission main. In the event of an emergency along the transmission route from pipeline rupture or other failure, FKAA uses the Stock Island Backpump Station, the Marathon Booster Pump Station with its storage facilities, and the emergency RO treatment plants at Stock Island and Marathon to backpump water up the Keys toward the Florida City WTP and maintain pressures until the emergency situation is resolved.

5.2

Evaluation of Existing Transmission System

The condition of the existing transmission system and the need for improvements were determined through knowledge of the transmission system and meetings and discussions with FKAA staff. A site visit was also conducted at the following facilities:

• High-service pumping and storage facilities at the J. Robert Dean WTP in Florida City

• Each of the four booster pump stations

• The Stock Island Backpump Station

The purpose of these site visits was to assess the condition and performance of major equipment and facilities, and to provide a condition assessment of these six pumping facilities and storage facilities, where applicable.

5.2.1

Transmission System Mains

Based on the evaluation of the existing transmission system mains and the coordination with other projects in the Keys that could impact the existing transmission mains, the fol- lowing segments of transmission mains will require improvements and upgrades during the planning period.

5.2.1.1

Jewfish Creek Bridge 36-inch Transmission Main Relocation

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is upgrading the 18-Mile Stretch portion of U.S. 1 between Key Largo in the Florida Keys and Florida City on the mainland. The first segment of this project is the Jewfish Creek segment, which will include an elevated high- way over the Lake Surprise area and a fixed span bridge over Jewfish Creek (65 feet mini- mum clearance from the Jewfish Creek water surface). Because of the elevated highway over Lake Surprise and the bridge over Jewfish Creek, approximately 9,000 feet of FKAA’s

36-inch-diameter steel transmission main must be relocated to provide easy access for main- tenance and repair. The transmission main relocation is expected to be complete during Fiscal Year 2008.

5.2.1.2

C-111 Canal Bridge 36-Inch Transmission Main Relocation

The second segment of the 18-Mile Stretch Highway Improvements project is the C-111 Canal Bridge segment. This segment was to include a new elevated bridge over the C-111

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Canal (20 feet clearance from the C-111 Canal water surface), with a required relocation of approximately 2,300 feet of 36-inch-diameter water transmission main. However, the new bridge has been deleted from this highway project, and consequently, no transmission main relocation will be required. There may, however, be some work still required to protect the transmission main either during construction or from surface water flow through box cul- verts after the highway construction is complete. This highway segment is expected to be complete during Fiscal Year 2009.

5.2.1.3

Other U.S. 1 18-Mile Stretch Highway Improvements that may Impact 36-Inch

Transmission Main

The last two segments of the 18-Mile Stretch Highway Improvements Projects, which are currently in the design stage, will upgrade U.S. 1 to Florida City. No significant new bridges are anticipated in these last two highway segments, and no transmission main relocation is anticipated. There may, however, be some work required to protect the transmission main either during construction or from surface water flow through box culverts after the high- way construction is complete. This work could involve concrete encasement or riprap pro- tection to some parts of the transmission main. These last two segments are not expected to be complete until at least 2007; the highway improvements are not expected to be complete before Fiscal Year 2010.