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►Fred's Blog
►News
Read our latest news releases.
►BSU 2012 Calendar
Bonita Springs Utilities is happy to
present its 11th Annual
Water Conservation Calendar,
a reminder to be conscious of
your water use throughout the year.
present its 11th Annual
Water Conservation Calendar,
a reminder to be conscious of
your water use throughout the year.
►Board Meeting Update
July 2009
| 
BSU needs your help
During the past few years, upside-down U-shaped pipes have appeared in front yards all over Bonita Springs. They’re ugly, but they are a critical component in protecting our water supply and ensuring public safety.
Bonita Springs Utilities has installed nearly 25,000 of these backflow-prevention devices for our residential and commercial member-customers. They prevent possible contamination of our drinking water supply by blocking water from flowing backward through water mains. Without backflow prevention, contamination could occur during a loss in pressure in the water system when a water main breaks, a large fire is fought, or when another user taps into a private water line.
Thousands of cases of backflow contamination are reported in the U.S. each year, and many others go unreported. Although backflow devices are required by law, many utilities have moved slowly to install them or have charged their customers for the equipment and installation. BSU typically installed the devices without charge to our member-customers.
Why weren’t they installed underground? State law requires routine inspection and maintenance, so quick and easy access to the backflow-prevention devices is important. Most of the devices are designed to noticeably discharge water if check valves fail or if backflow conditions occur. If you notice water pouring from the equipment, please contact our office immediately, so a technician can repair or replace the backflow-prevention device.
We encourage homeowners to use landscaping to soften the devices’ visual impact, but to be sure to leave plenty of access space, so plants won’t hamper our periodic checks and maintenance. Please limit landscaping to three sides of the equipment, or only two sides, if it’s located close to a road or sidewalk.
Our technicians need enough room between the landscaping and the equipment to do their work. Thirty inches – two-and-a-half feet – is ideal. As you’re planting, remember to allow for the vegetation’s growth. A shrub that might spread 18 inches from its trunk should be planted at least four feet from the device, leaving 30 inches between its outstretched branches and the equipment. Periodic landscape trimming should be done to maintain this working distance.
We inspect an average of 2,000 devices monthly, so we appreciate your help in keeping them accessible.
During the past few years, upside-down U-shaped pipes have appeared in front yards all over Bonita Springs. They’re ugly, but they are a critical component in protecting our water supply and ensuring public safety.
Bonita Springs Utilities has installed nearly 25,000 of these backflow-prevention devices for our residential and commercial member-customers. They prevent possible contamination of our drinking water supply by blocking water from flowing backward through water mains. Without backflow prevention, contamination could occur during a loss in pressure in the water system when a water main breaks, a large fire is fought, or when another user taps into a private water line.
Thousands of cases of backflow contamination are reported in the U.S. each year, and many others go unreported. Although backflow devices are required by law, many utilities have moved slowly to install them or have charged their customers for the equipment and installation. BSU typically installed the devices without charge to our member-customers.
Why weren’t they installed underground? State law requires routine inspection and maintenance, so quick and easy access to the backflow-prevention devices is important. Most of the devices are designed to noticeably discharge water if check valves fail or if backflow conditions occur. If you notice water pouring from the equipment, please contact our office immediately, so a technician can repair or replace the backflow-prevention device.
We encourage homeowners to use landscaping to soften the devices’ visual impact, but to be sure to leave plenty of access space, so plants won’t hamper our periodic checks and maintenance. Please limit landscaping to three sides of the equipment, or only two sides, if it’s located close to a road or sidewalk.
Our technicians need enough room between the landscaping and the equipment to do their work. Thirty inches – two-and-a-half feet – is ideal. As you’re planting, remember to allow for the vegetation’s growth. A shrub that might spread 18 inches from its trunk should be planted at least four feet from the device, leaving 30 inches between its outstretched branches and the equipment. Periodic landscape trimming should be done to maintain this working distance.
We inspect an average of 2,000 devices monthly, so we appreciate your help in keeping them accessible.
IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY and need to contact us, please call our main number, (239) 992-0711 or (800) 583-1496. It is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Note that email is read and answered only during normal business hours, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
Water Restrictions
For information about current water restrictions please CLICK HERE for more information.
FAQ: Boil Water Notices
Boil water notices are common in Southwest Florida, caused by water main breaks, construction mistakes, disruptions at the water treatment plant and natural disasters like floods and hurricanes. The typical notice is issued as a precaution until water samples can be collected and analyzed. CLICK HERE for answers to your questions.
Water Conservation
The South Florida Water Management District is a regional governmental agency that oversees the water resources in the southern half of the state, covering 16 counties from Orlando to the Florida Keys and serving a population of 7.5 million residents.
It is the oldest and largest of the state's five water management districts. Created in 1949, the agency is responsible for managing and protecting water resources of South Florida by balancing and improving water quality, flood control, natural systems and water supply.
For more information visit the South Florida Water Management District Website.
►Cell Phones for Soldiers
BSU is an official collection site for
Cell Phones for Soldiers.
Drop off your old cell phone today!