Residents of the Manors of Crystal Lakes are expected to connect to a new Hillsborough County water line within a month or so.
Work continues on installing pipeline along Lutz Lake Fern Road, with the road narrowed down to one lane near North Dale Mabry Highway while construction continues.
The county is completing the $5.4 million project to connect the Manors of Crystal Lakes to a new 12-inch water line. The goal is to improve the reliability of water supply for the subdivision, said Richard Kirby, section manager for Hillsborough County’s capital improvement program.
The project involves 4.5 miles of pipeline, Kirby said. It creates a looped system, giving Manors of Crystal Lake residents a backup in the event of any water line breaks or other disruptions.
The water flow also will be improved with the new line, bringing it up to the current standards for fire protection.
As work progresses, flagmen are directing traffic down to one lane on a portion of Lutz Lake Fern Road near North Dale Mabry Highway as crews work along the right of way of the narrow road. Installing the pipeline along that stretch is a challenge because of existing utilities in the area, Kirby said.
New water pipes already have been installed on U.S. 41 as part of the project.
Once the work on Lutz Lake Fern Road is completed between U.S. 41 and North Dale Mabry Highway, testing of the water line will begin.
The biggest change is that customers will receive water that uses chloramines in the final disinfection stages instead of chlorine, Kirby said.
“If anything, it’s an improvement in the smell and taste of the water because there’s less chemical in there,” he said.
Customers should be aware that water that contains chloramines should not be used in home aquariums, fishponds or home kidney dialysis, Kirby said. Water used for those purposes should be treated or filtered to remove the chloramines.
Chloramines have been used to disinfect water since the 1930s, Kirby said. They are used to disinfect water throughout the county’s water system.
So far, most of the calls coming into the county about the project have been inquiries about whether nearby properties can hook onto the system, Kirby said. Properties that are adjacent to the water pipe can hook in, but they must be directly next to it.
He does not expect any changes in water pressure for customers. The rates will not change either.
The Manors of Crystal Lakes already is a part of the county’s water system, but has been served by two wells. Those wells and a nearby chlorination plant will be shut down once the new waterline begins operation.
Published September 24, 2014
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