WPB takes steps to protect drinking water from toxic algae

Photo courtesy of Paul Shindel

They basically turned off the tap.

That's what the city of West Palm Beach has done to protect its drinking water from contamination from toxic algae.

Those algae blooms that have caused so much concern along the Treasure Coast and now in Palm Beach County will not affect the drinking water in West Palm Beach.

That's the word from city water officials. The City of West Palm Beach water system is the only utility in the area that draws its drinking water from lakes, canals and other surface sources. All others pull water from deep under ground using wells.

Water officials revealed Monday during the City Commission meeting that seven weeks ago, they detected a possible increase in algae levels in the water flowing into the system from various canals.

The decision was immediately made to cut off the system from those outside sources.

The city says it cut itself off from the contaminated waters by closing any connections to canals or lakes where algae had been found. The move essentially protected the Grassy Waters Everglades Preserve, where the vast majority of city drinking water comes from.

As a result, city water officials say the system, and Grassy Waters Everglades Preserve are now cut off from the waters that are contaminated with toxic algae.

Elected officials praised the early and quick decision making of the city's utility department.