Photo courtesy distilledwaterassociation.org
By: Sharon Aron Baron
Coral Springs has four separate companies that provide drinking water to the residents of the city, and Vice Mayor Dan Daley is so concerned about the aging infrastructure one, he contacted the Florida Public Service Commission which provides regulatory oversight to protect consumers.
Service Map for Royal Utility
Royal Utility Company services around 1,600 customers in the neighborhoods of Coventry, Coral Trace, Carriage Pointe, Ramblewood East along with the Royal Eagle and Riverside Square commercial plazas. The company has had three boil water notices within two years where the entire district was without water. Most recently on February 22, which left residents without water for more than 12 hours and necessitated a 48-hour boil water notice.
“I have some serious concerns about the quality of the water,” said Daley.
Daley believes that Royal Utility does not have a full-time staff capable of handling an issue like that which occurred in February when a main line was broken from a heavy commercial truck that parked on the grass on top of it. “When it happened, they needed to call contractors to come out and perform the repairs. That’s one of the reasons it took so long to fix,” he said.
Daley said that newer infrastructure could have prevented the water pressure from dropping below a safe level and prompting the boil water notice.
“The private owners of Royal have been trying to get out of the business for some time and haven’t asked for a rate increase in over 15 years from Public Service Commission.”
While residents may like the fact that there isn’t a rate increase, Daley stresses that when a water company asks for an increase, their infrastructure is scrutinized by the Florida Public Service Commission. By not asking for a rate increase, they have no obligation to update their old infrastructure.
At one time, Royal Utility Company wanted the City of Coral Springs to purchase it, however, the city discovered their infrastructure was 15-20 years old, and on top of that, the company, without making any improvements, wanted a major windfall on top of the sale.
Daley sent a letter to the head of the Florida Public Service Commission on March 1, asking that they review and examine Royal Utility and determine the best course of action moving forward.
“I would like them to come in and verify that everything is on the up-and-up with the Department of Health and make sure residents have safe and reliable drinking water provided by their utility,” said Daley. “At the end of the day, that’s all I want to do. They [residents] don’t trust royal utility. They don’t care what they’re being told. Nobody should have to live like that.”
To file a complaint with the Florida Public Service Commission about your water, fill out this form on their website.
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