What a difference five years makes: City's drought plan activated to block toxic algae

THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN THE WPB INSIDER Newsletter.

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Flashback to 2011: The city of West Palm Beach was experiencing drought conditions only seen once in a hundred years. Water levels at Clear Lake were near all-time lows. There was little to no rain. The city's drinking water supply and water levels were dangerously low.

Mayor Jeri Muoio told city staff: "Never again," and began a multi-year plan to design and build new ways of finding alternate sources of water.

Today there are wells that didn't exist in 2011.

There are pumps that can reach water that couldn't be reached in 2011.

There are new methods to reuse water that in 2011 floated out to sea.

All these measures were put in place to protect the city from future drought conditions. But today they are protecting the city from toxic algae.

Two months ago, after detecting rising algae levels in canals that move water from Lake Okeechobee into the Grassy Waters Everglades Preserve (where the city's drinking water originates), the city made the proactive decision to shut off those canals and protect the city's water source from possible algae contamination.

The decision cut off a significant water source that replenishes Grassy Waters. Grassy Waters feeds Clear Lake and the city's water plant.

It was a move that could not have happened in 2011 without risking a severe drop in the lake levels in Clear Lake.

But thanks to drought prevention measures put in place since 2011, today it is possible.

Five years ago, the city would have been faced with a "Sophie's Choice:"

Block the algae while causing lake levels to drop, or maintain lake levels as algae-contaminated water enters the system.

Instead, all that was needed this week was to notify the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) the city wanted to implement some of its drought prevention plan to make up the lost water, and for the SFWMD to approve.

Because of lessons learned and cooperative relationships forged between the city and the SFWMD, the SFWMD Friday granted permission within 24 hours of receiving the request.

As a result, millions of gallons of additional water will be flowing into the system every day.

It was a quick and easy process. But it was only quick and easy because of lessons learned, plans implemented and improvements made since 2011.