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Ocoee utilities to stop fluoridation, begin PFAS testing and expand conservation outreach
Summary
City utilities said they will remove fluoride from the public water system to comply with a state law and reported initial PFAS sampling above unregulated levels requiring further testing. Staff previewed water‑use notifications, a smart irrigation pilot and outreach to high‑water users.
The City of Ocoee’s utilities director told commissioners the city will remove fluoride from the municipal water supply to comply with new state law language and that the system’s initial sampling showed some PFAS concentrations that require additional testing and evaluation.
Why it matters: Both moves affect public health communications and potential treatment costs. Commissioners asked for clarifications about timelines, cost savings from stopping fluoridation and what residents should expect in notices about water quality and conservation.
Director Jennifer Bowling said the recently passed Florida bill’s language effectively prevents the city from continuing fluoridation. “We are removing fluoride from the water system. We're required to have it out of the water system by July 1,” she said, adding staff are “essentially using up the supply that we have” to meet the deadline.
Bowling said the city has begun initial PFAS (per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances) monitoring for unregulated contaminants and found concentrations that will require additional testing and evaluation of treatment options. “We've gone through several testing and we did come up with some concentrations that are above a contamination level that will require additional treatment,” she said. Staff described treatment options including granular activated carbon (GAC) systems and deeper well sources but emphasized Ocoee is in early stages of testing and planning; the current rule window cited by staff requires compliance by 2029.
On conservation, Bowling outlined programs the utilities are expanding: high‑water‑user notifications for the top 50 users, continuous‑use door‑tag outreach when meters indicate constant flow, irrigation‑rule enforcement tied to the St. Johns water management district standards, and a pilot smart‑controller rebate program that may include reclaimed‑water users. The department has tested a Rachio smart controller in‑house and plans outreach events and meter‑level daily‑use reporting to help residents spot leaks and high consumption.
Commissioner questions and clarifications included an inquiry about annual savings from discontinuing fluoridation; Bowling said staff’s preliminary figure was “35,000 a year.” Commissioners also asked about the federal PFAS compliance timeline; Bowling referenced federal rulemaking and acknowledged that rule dates she cited in the meeting were preliminary and that the city will follow final federal and state requirements as they are issued.
Ending: Utilities staff will proceed with the fluoride removal required by state law, continue the PFAS sampling and evaluation, and roll out conservation notifications and the proposed smart‑controller pilot. Staff committed to return with further testing results and specific treatment cost estimates before recommending large capital projects.
