Utilities Department - Palm Bay Utilties Department Upgrades Infrastructure

The Palm Bay Utilities Department plans to upgrade its water services infrastructure in the Northeast section of the City. As part of an Infrastructure Sustainability and Modernization Program, Palm Bay Utilities Water Distribution crews began replacing galvanized water services in certain areas along the Port Malabar Boulevard corridor last Tuesday [January 8]. This program will continue throughout this section of the City over the next two years. Approximately 1,400 service lines will be replaced.

The galvanized piping in this area was installed many years ago by General Development Utilities, Inc. The new water services being installed by the Palm Bay Utilities Department will be a type of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) tubing that will have a longer service life and will not be subject to aging and degradation like galvanized pipe.

“With the new pipe in place, residents in the area will benefit from better water pressure, water quality and water flow,” explained Jason Yarborough, Utilities Director.

While crews are replacing the galvanized pipe they will also take this opportunity to install new water meters at each location as part of the City’s Meter Replacement Program. The Utilities Department is working diligently city-wide to replace existing standard water meters with new radio frequency (RF) water meters. The new RF meters will allow for meter readings to be transmitted to a data logging system. This new system will provide more accurate readings and ultimately reduce the department’s operating expenses associated with reading meters.

Customers in the areas affected by the replacement of the galvanized pipes will be notified by the Utilities Department prior to the start of any work. The process will require the water to be shut down for a minimal length of time to replace certain fittings. Since this will require excavations, customers will also notice various companies in the area and possibly multi-colored paint marks and flags. Please do not remove flags or paint because these indicate the locations for other types of buried utilities such as electricity, phone, gas and cable. The City will strive to make these capital improvements in a timely manner with as little disruption to daily routines as possible. Any alterations to the right-of-way will be restored at the earliest time possible.

For more information regarding this project, visit www.pbud.org or contact the Palm Bay Utilities Department at (321)952-3410.