Punta Gorda utilities director reports low reservoir levels, drought enforcement and RO plant progress

Tom Spencer, Punta Gorda utilities director, told the council that the city remains in drought and staff are managing supply and treatment projects while enforcing water restrictions. Spencer said the April "water to town" average was about 5,330,000 gallons per day and the recent peak was about 6.92 million gallons per day. He reported the service-water plant is limited under Block 1 to roughly 4,220,000 gallons per day and combined service plus RO capacity is about 8.22 million gallons per day. The reservoir level was 5.47 feet on May 1 and 5.05 feet at the time of the report, which Spencer cited as evidence the region still needs more rain.

Spencer also updated the council on treatment performance and water quality. He said surface-water total dissolved solids (TDS) readings ranged from about 557 to 634 with an average near 604, while the blended finished-water TDS averaged near 373 and briefly approached but did not exceed a 500 threshold. "We're still managing to keep that below with our blended, the blended TDS," he said, adding that the wastewater treatment plant is operating on new bioreactors and is "running quite well," with a three-month rolling average flow of about 2,900,000 gallons per day and a reported peak flow near 4,850,000 gallons per day.

On enforcement, finance manager Theresa Carlisle reported that as of 05:15 staff had issued 505 citations: 491 first citations and 14 second citations, with no third citations to date. Carlisle said the $25 first-level fine functions largely as an "inconvenience fee" intended to cover enforcement costs; subsequent penalties are higher. Council members asked how contested citations are handled; Spencer said simple disputes can be handled through the code office with documentation, but unresolved or unpaid fines may proceed to code compliance and ultimately could result in a lien if unpaid. Staff are evaluating whether small fines could be added to utility bills, which may require updates to the city's code of ordinances.

Spencer outlined project updates tied to supply and metering. The AMI (advanced metering infrastructure) procurement documents are with procurement and an RFP is expected soon; a pre-bid meeting will be open to the public and may offer a remote option. Materials for the RO treatment plant and well-field expansion are in procurement; Spencer said using a progressive design-build approach for the RO and well-field work could save roughly 30% in time and reduce procurement complexity by allowing contractor and engineer teams to begin procurement earlier in the process.

Council members also discussed planning for potential large industrial water users near the airport. Spencer said the city has no prepackaged plan for a large new user but will address readiness in the utilities master plan; the city has an interlocal agreement with Charlotte County and access to Peace River Regional Water Supply Authority purchases as a temporary supply option. "We told them yes if we can figure out where we're getting the water, and yes if you are going to contribute and make the connections," Spencer said, noting that very large users would need to help fund the infrastructure required.

The council approved the April 21 minutes earlier in the meeting and adjourned after the staff updates.