Wellington’s Water Treatment Plant Renewal & Replacement Project began in 2018. The goal of this project was to expand and modernize the Village’s water treatment facility to continue providing reliable and affordable service to our utility customers. The project was awarded to Weiss Construction. The proposed upgrades included a new treatment train, replacement of water treatment membranes, replacement of high service pumps, a newly modernized control room facility, plant reconditioning, yard piping, fuel system improvements, electrical system upgrades, chemical system upgrades, and a new permanent fluoridation system. The project was initially scheduled to be complete in September 2020. While the majority of the work was able to be completed under the initial contract, as a result of contractor delays, many aspects of the project were delayed and completed behind schedule.
One such aspect of the project is the installation of a permanent fluoridation system. This will replace the temporary system put in place after the Village reinstituted water fluoridation in 2017. To accommodate the construction of the plant renewal and replacement project, we temporarily stopped fluoridating water from the plant in May of 2020. This means that water provided to our utility customers has not been fluoridated since that time. The interruption was originally expected to last 90 days. Last year, we evaluated the remaining project work items including the fluoridation system improvements, and reassigned the remaining work to a different contractor, Wharton-Smith, Inc. Construction Group.
The scope of work with Wharton-Smith remains in progress and the fluoridation system is expected to be completed and online in September 2022. While we notified the Florida Department of Health as required, we did not provide this information to the community. Notwithstanding the later date, we want you to know that this project is now on track and we will resume water fluoridation. We do not anticipate any further delays in the completion of the project.
What Should You do?
The American Dental Association recommends using fluoridated toothpaste and/or supplements and scheduling a regular dental checkup during a temporary interruption of fluoridation. Eating healthy foods that are low in sugar to help fight against cavities and other dental health issues is always recommended. Please consult your dental or medical provider for specific recommendations.
Is Water Without Fluoride Safe to Drink?
During this temporary interruption, the water was and continues to be perfectly safe to drink. There is no change in taste or color, the only difference is the absence of fluoride.
Visit our Facts About Fluoride webpage to learn about community water fluoridation.
For more information regarding Village's water, see Wellington's Annual Water Quality Report.