City amends utilities code to address inflow and infiltration; staff says measure not aimed at mobile-home parks

The Coconut Creek City Commission adopted an ordinance on second reading May 22 that amends Chapter 20 (Utilities) to require maintenance compliance for private water and wastewater systems to prevent inflow and infiltration (I&I).

City staff described I&I as rainwater and groundwater entering cracked pipes, which can cause sewer overflows, backups into homes, and increase treatment costs because the utility must treat essentially clean water at the wastewater plant. The code change gives the city additional tools to measure system performance where private wastewater meters are absent so officials can compare water-usage to wastewater flows and identify problem sites.

Staff specifically addressed social-media concerns and told the commission the ordinance is "in no way, shape, or form targeting any mobile home parks." Staff said many mobile-home parks already have long-standing agreements, meters, CCTV and engineering reports and that the amendment is primarily intended to provide the city with tools to compare water and wastewater ratios on smaller private commercial parcels that lack separate wastewater meters.

Commissioner Welsh asked whether septic and private well systems are affected; staff replied they do not apply to stand-alone systems that are not connected to the city system. Commissioner Riedell asked whether the city's enforcement would target associations rather than individual unit owners; staff confirmed compliance responsibility falls to the community association.

No members of the public signed up to speak on the second-reading hearing. The commission voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance on second reading.