The City of Winter Springs is inviting sealed proposals for the replacement of its water meters with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI).
Currently, there are 14,808 potable water meters and 2,242 reclaim water meters distributed across a 15 square mile area. The city is looking for ultrasonic metering that includes AMI data collection and an integrated acoustic leak detection solution. This initiative aims to enhance the efficiency of meter data collection, streamline the billing process, and improve the utility’s interface with its customers.
The evolution of water meter technology has significantly changed the way utilities operate. In the past, older technology required meter readers to visit individual sites to read meters physically. In contrast, AMI meters enable remote collection of water usage data in real time. This not only supports more frequent billing but also allows utilities to quickly identify excessive water use, which may indicate leaks.
“Thank you for reaching out regarding reclaimed water vs. potable for your irrigation.”
— Commissioner Bruce, responding to a resident question about their water bill
Residents across Winter Springs are opening their water bills and seeing a number higher than they expected. A big reason why often surprises people: if your irrigation system runs on potable water — the same treated drinking water that comes out of your tap — you’re paying premium rates to water your lawn.
I want to explain what that means, why it matters far beyond your monthly bill, and exactly what the city is doing to fix it — neighborhood by neighborhood.
The hidden reason your bill may be higher than it should be
If your irrigation system runs on potable water, that water goes through the same treatment process as what comes out of your kitchen tap — purified, tested, pressurized, and delivered to your home. Using it to water your lawn is effective, but it comes at a cost that many residents feel every month.
Many Winter Springs residents are already connected to reclaimed water for irrigation — and if you are, you’re in good shape. But a significant number of households are still on potable for their irrigation, and that’s what the city is actively working to change.
Beyond the bill, there’s a deeper issue most residents don’t know about: something called a Consumptive Use Permit, or CUP.
What is a CUP?
A Consumptive Use Permit is a state-issued authorization that sets a hard limit on how much water a city is legally allowed to draw from natural sources — aquifers, rivers, and springs. Florida’s water supply is finite. The more drinking water Winter Springs uses for irrigation, the faster we burn through our CUP allocation — and the closer we get to a day when the state could restrict our ability to grow or serve future residents.
Winter Springs has been planning around water supply constraints for decades. The city’s existing artesian well infrastructure and augmentation sites near Lake Jesup are part of that longer story — a serious, long-term investment in protecting our water future.
Learn how the city’s long-term water augmentation infrastructure near Lake Jesup supports our ability to meet community demand while protecting natural water sources.
In other words, using potable water for irrigation isn’t just a personal expense — it’s a community resource challenge. Every gallon of treated drinking water used on a lawn is a gallon that can’t support drinking, cooking, or future growth.
Reclaimed water changes that equation entirely. It’s highly treated water that’s safe for irrigation but not for drinking — which makes it perfect for lawns, golf courses, and parks. Using it for irrigation frees up our drinking water supply, reduces our CUP draw, and costs residents significantly less.
When demand exceeds supply — a real example
The reclaimed water system has a finite amount of water available every day, determined by how much wastewater the city’s treatment facilities actually receive and process. During unusually hot or dry stretches — when irrigation demand spikes — that balance can be disrupted.
Many residents experienced this firsthand during the summer of 2023, when reduced rainfall led to a surge in reclaimed water demand that temporarily outpaced supply, causing low pressure across parts of the system. It was a visible reminder of just how interconnected our water infrastructure really is.
Commissioner Bruce explained what caused the pressure issues that summer, what the city did to mitigate them, and what residents can do to support the system during high-demand periods.
Expanding reclaimed water access to more neighborhoods directly reduces that risk — the more residents we move off potable irrigation, the more resilient the overall system becomes.
Where we are right now — and where we’re headed
The city has been steadily expanding the reclaimed water system. Here’s a snapshot of projects either completed, underway, or in the pipeline:
Project details reflect the city’s current infrastructure plan. For the latest status on your neighborhood, contact the Public Works department or reach out to my office directly.
Tuskawilla Crossings
Completed
Veterans Park · 12″ RWM Extension
Completed
Hickory Groves
In construction
Winter Springs Village
In design — conversion underway
The Highlands (southeast section)
Planned — connection pending
Wildwood
Planned — connection pending
Seminole Crossings
Planned — in design
The Landings at Parkstone · Chestnut Estates · Chestnut Ridge
Planned — existing services or connection pending
Glen Eagle + Seneca Blvd · Connect East & West Plants
Future phase — long-run extensions planned
What this means for you
If your neighborhood is on the list above, you’ll be hearing from the city as your area approaches its connection date. The transition to reclaimed water for irrigation is expected to lower your water costs while helping protect Winter Springs’ long-term water supply.
If your neighborhood isn’t listed yet — it doesn’t mean you’re forgotten. The system is being built outward, and more connections will be added as infrastructure allows. The goal is to get as many residents off potable irrigation as possible.
When it comes to water management, everything is interconnected. The city is diligently addressing flooding challenges, maximizing water quality, and protecting our water supply — all at the same time. This is one piece of a much larger puzzle, and it matters.
Have questions about reclaimed water in your neighborhood? Reach out to my office — I read every message.
Victoria K. Bruce
Commissioner, District 2 · City of Winter Springs · (407) 327-7585
Winter Springs has a stormwater system that most residents rarely think about until it rains hard enough to matter. Behind the scenes, that system includes 353 ponds, miles of drainage infrastructure, and a network of pipes and outfall structures that manage water flow across the entire city. Keeping that system functional takes sustained investment, and for years, the funding has not kept pace with what the work actually costs.
At the May 11, 2026 City Commission meeting, the city’s engineering consultants Kimley-Horn and Raftelis presented a comprehensive stormwater management and rate study. The presentation is embedded below. This post walks through what the study covers and why I supported moving it forward.
How Winter Springs Stormwater Works
Not all ponds in Winter Springs are the same, and understanding the difference matters when discussing who is responsible for what.
The city recognizes three categories. Public ponds sit on city-owned property and receive stormwater from public roads and rights-of-way. The city maintains these fully. Private ponds sit on privately owned property and receive stormwater from private infrastructure. The city has no maintenance role there. Hybrid ponds are the category that affects the most residents: they sit on privately owned property, often within HOA communities, but receive stormwater directly from public roads and infrastructure. Because public water flows into them through public pipes, the city has both access rights and a maintenance responsibility for the infrastructure connected to those ponds.
Of the 353 ponds in Winter Springs, 131 are city-maintained. That includes 43 fully public ponds and 88 hybrid ponds.
What the Maintenance Program Covers
The study presented a detailed operations and maintenance plan that goes well beyond routine debris removal. For hybrid ponds, the program includes yearly inspections of outfall structures and drainage pipes, sediment removal, pipe relining, scour and outlet protection, and control structure repairs. The average cost to fully maintain a single hybrid pond is estimated at $152,000, with a 15-year maintenance cycle across all 88 locations.
For fully public ponds, the program includes monthly aquatic vegetation inspections, monthly mowing, debris and sediment removal, aeration, erosion repairs, and pipe repair or replacement as needed.
The study also includes a creek inspection and maintenance program focused on targeted intervention where blockages and localized issues occur, as well as a series of larger capital improvement projects funded through third and fourth generation sales tax revenue.
The full presentation is embedded below. I encourage residents to review it and reach out with any questions.
The Rate Adjustment
The city’s current stormwater rate is $10.00 per month per residential unit. That rate has not been sufficient to fund a comprehensive maintenance program, and the gap between available revenue and actual maintenance costs has grown.
The proposed rate schedule phases in adjustments over four years: $15.00 in FY2027, $17.50 in FY2028, $19.50 in FY2029, and $20.50 by FY2030.
For context, Winter Springs at $15.00 per month would still be below what residents pay in Apopka, Orlando, Oviedo, Maitland, and Winter Park. The current rate of $10.00 is among the lowest in the region. The adjustment reflects the real cost of maintaining aging infrastructure that serves the whole community.
Why I Supported This
Residents have raised concerns about flooding, pond conditions, and sediment buildup for years. Those concerns are valid. The stormwater system in Winter Springs includes ponds that are decades old, and without a funded maintenance program, the problems compound over time.
What the May 11 presentation showed the commission is that the city has a plan. It is structured, professionally developed, and tied to a realistic financial forecast. The rate adjustments proposed are incremental, regionally competitive, and directly connected to a defined scope of work.
Supporting this program is consistent with what I have heard from residents in District 2: they want the city to address infrastructure problems, they want to understand what they are paying for, and they want a plan that reflects responsible fiscal management. This study provides that foundation.
The full presentation is embedded below. I encourage residents to review it and reach out with any questions.
Water management is often discussed in pieces. Residents hear about stormwater when there is flooding. Drinking water comes up when there are quality concerns. Wastewater infrastructure gets attention when a system needs repair. But these are not separate problems. They are parts of one system.
That idea has a name: One Water. It reflects the reality that drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, groundwater, surface water, and recycled water are all interconnected. How a community manages one affects the others.
Why It Matters Now
Florida has experienced an unusual pattern in recent years. Extended droughts have lowered groundwater levels and contributed to wildfire conditions across parts of the state. Those drought periods are then followed by heavy rainfall and flooding. The extremes are becoming harder to manage in isolation.
Addressing those extremes requires looking at the full water cycle, not just one piece of it. A stormwater pond that is properly maintained does more than reduce neighborhood flooding. It filters runoff before it reaches surface water and eventually groundwater. A well-functioning wastewater system protects the same water sources that supply drinking water. These connections run in every direction.
What Winter Springs Is Doing
The City is actively working to improve its water infrastructure on multiple fronts.
On the stormwater side, Winter Springs is in the process of updating its pond maintenance program. The City manages 122 stormwater ponds, and an ongoing review is determining how best to maintain those systems over time. That work is connected to a broader capital improvement plan that addresses long-term infrastructure needs across the stormwater network.
This investment is not just about flood control. Properly maintained stormwater systems protect local water quality and contribute to the health of regional water supplies. That is relevant in a part of Florida that relies on the Floridan Aquifer and is managing ongoing pressure on groundwater levels.
Regional coordination matters here as well. Effective water management does not stop at city limits. Collaboration between municipalities, water management districts, and state agencies is part of how communities build resilience against the kinds of conditions Florida has been experiencing.
What Residents Can Expect
As the City moves forward with infrastructure improvements and maintenance planning, residents will have opportunities to learn more about what is being proposed and why. Commissioner Bruce has been following the stormwater program review closely and will continue sharing updates as decisions move through the Commission process.
The goal is straightforward: a water system that works for Winter Springs residents today and holds up over time, regardless of what weather conditions bring.
More information on the City’s stormwater program and upcoming Commission discussions is available at victoriaforwintersprings.com.
The May 12 City Commission meeting was a long one. Residents filled the chamber. The debate was real. And at the end of it, the Commission voted to raise the monthly stormwater rate from $10 to $15 starting October 1, with gradual increases continuing through 2030, when the rate reaches $20 per month.
That is a real increase, and it deserves a clear explanation.
A second and final vote is expected at the June meeting. Before that happens, here is what residents should understand about what this rate increase covers, why the fund needed it, and how the Commission arrived at this decision.
The stormwater fund was already running a deficit
Before any discussion of new services, City Manager Kevin Sweet addressed something residents may not have known: the stormwater enterprise fund has not been self-sustaining for years. Prior administrations moved general fund money into the stormwater account simply to keep existing services operational.
“Our stormwater is an enterprise fund, which means it should be self-sustaining, and it has not been,” Sweet said at the May 12 meeting. “Prior administrations have been moving general fund money into that account to keep it operational. So the stormwater enterprise fund has been running in a deficit, even maintaining existing services.”
That is not a sustainable situation. It means the stormwater system has been maintained at a bare minimum while a backlog of deferred work has grown quietly in the background. Hurricane Ian in 2022 made that backlog visible. Public Works Director Clete Saunier told commissioners that while no stormwater system in Florida could fully handle a storm of Ian’s scale, the flooding that followed pointed to specific infrastructure gaps that had gone unaddressed for too long.
The last time Winter Springs adjusted its stormwater rate before the recent $10 increase was 1992. Nobody in that chamber could argue that costs have not changed in the past three decades.
What the rate increase actually funds
The additional revenue — projected to grow from roughly $2 million annually to more than $4 million by 2030 — is structured to phase in services over time. The financial forecast presented at the meeting shows existing operating expenses holding steady while service enhancements are layered in gradually across fiscal years 2027 through 2030. This was intentional.
In practical terms, the rate increase funds:
A four-person maintenance crew dedicated to stormwater pond work, along with the trucks and equipment they need to do the job. Visual inspections of every public and private stormwater pond in the city. A commitment to higher-level maintenance for the city’s 88 hybrid ponds — ponds on private property that receive public stormwater drainage — with up to six ponds per year receiving full rehabilitation. Capacity to address creek maintenance and sediment removal as tertiary projects, as the fund stabilizes.
The most significant line item is pipe relining — approximately $120,000 per pond, based on an average pipe length of 400 feet at $275 per foot. Engineer David Hamstra walked commissioners through what happens when that maintenance is deferred: pipes crack, joints fail, soil migrates into the drainage system, and what starts as a small repair becomes a very expensive one. In one case Hamstra referenced, a 36-inch pipe replacement in a community development district cost over a million dollars — in a neighborhood only 20 years old.
“These are real numbers,” Hamstra told commissioners. “Averages, yes. But real.”
The rate would also keep pace with what neighboring communities are doing. At $15 per month, Winter Springs remains approximately in the middle of the pack for central Florida stormwater rates.
How the vote came together
The Commission was closely divided. Commissioners Paul Diaz and Mark Caruso voted against the increase, citing the broader financial strain residents are facing. Commissioners Cade Resnick and Sarah Baker voted in favor. Commissioner Victoria Bruce made the motion to approve.
She did not arrive at that decision quickly.
Throughout the discussion, Bruce pressed the consultants and city staff with practical questions. She asked whether stormwater impact fees could be imposed on new development. She asked whether using general fund reserves as a temporary bridge was allowable and advisable. She asked what would happen to staff and equipment if the Commission approved only the first year of increases and revisited the rest annually.
She also asked directly whether the rate schedule could be made less aggressive.
“Is there a way we can modify this schedule, make it less?” Bruce asked during the hearing.
The answer from the rate consultant was that pacing could be adjusted, but that doing so would delay services and leave the program without the sustained revenue it needs to function as designed. Hiring crews and ordering specialized equipment — some with 18-month lead times — requires a multi-year financial commitment. Starting and stopping creates the same deferred maintenance problem the city is now trying to dig out of.
After hearing that, and after listening to the full public discussion, Bruce moved to approve the rate ordinance as staff recommended.
“I want residents to understand that I took this seriously,” Bruce said. “I asked whether we could do less, whether we could slow it down, whether there was another way. The honest answer is that we have already waited too long. Every year this goes unaddressed, it gets more expensive. The families most at risk of flooding are often the ones least able to afford the damage when it happens.”
What this means going forward
The first reading has passed. A second and final vote is expected at the June Commission meeting. If approved, the new rate of $15 per month takes effect October 1.
The rate increase does not cover the 12 large regional stormwater improvement projects identified in the city’s recently adopted Stormwater Master Plan. Those projects — totaling approximately $8.8 million — are funded through the city’s third and fourth generation penny sales tax revenues, not through the stormwater utility rate. The rate increase funds operations, maintenance, and the pond rehabilitation program.
Residents with questions about the stormwater system, the pond maintenance program, or how the rate structure works are encouraged to attend the June meeting or contact the city directly.
Today the Winter Springs City Commission is holding a workshop focused on two connected topics: a stormwater pond maintenance plan and a rate study recommending significant changes to what residents pay each month. The presentations will be led by consultants from Kimley-Horn, Pegasus Engineering, and Raftelis.
This is the kind of meeting that does not always get much public attention, but the decisions that follow will affect most households in Winter Springs. Here is a plain-language breakdown of what is being discussed.
What the City’s Stormwater System Looks Like
Winter Springs has 346 stormwater ponds. Of those, 122 are currently the City’s responsibility to maintain. That group includes 43 fully public ponds on City-owned property, and 79 “hybrid” ponds — ponds on privately owned land that receive runoff from public roads and rights-of-way.
The distinction matters because the Commission is being asked to decide how much maintenance responsibility the City takes on for those hybrid ponds. That decision directly affects staffing levels, operating costs, and ultimately the stormwater rate.
Maintenance on these ponds typically runs on a 15-year cycle and covers things like pipe relining, sediment removal, control structure repairs, and scour protection. The average estimated cost per pond is $152,000. The plan calls for addressing six ponds per year at a total annual cost of $912,000 once fully phased in.
The Proposed Rate Increases
This is where residents will feel the impact most directly.
The current stormwater rate is $10.00 per equivalent residential unit per month. The rate study, prepared by Raftelis, recommends the following schedule:
FY 2027: $15.00 per month
FY 2028: $17.50 per month
FY 2029: $19.50 per month
FY 2030: $20.50 per month
That is a proposed increase of more than 100 percent over four years. A resident paying $10.00 per month today would pay $20.50 by 2030.
The rate study frames this as necessary to cover expanded pond maintenance, a new stormwater crew planned for FY 2027, equipment acquisitions, and 12 capital improvement projects totaling $8.825 million. For context, Winter Springs currently has one of the lower stormwater rates in the region. Even at $15.00 in Year 1, the City would fall below several neighboring communities. That context is worth knowing, but it does not answer every question about pace and scope.
What the Commission Needs to Work Through
Today’s workshop is informational. No votes will be taken. But the direction Commission provides on several questions will shape what the final rate picture looks like.
The biggest open question is the hybrid pond scope. The presentation materials note directly that Commission direction on how many ponds the City maintains will affect the staffing cost category in the rate study. A narrower maintenance scope means lower costs and a different rate trajectory.
Other questions that deserve clear answers before any rate vote: whether there are grant or outside funding opportunities being pursued for capital projects, what drove significant repair and maintenance spending in FY 2025, and what the billing mechanism for the stormwater fee will look like as rates rise.
What Comes Next
Additional rate study meetings are expected before any formal vote. Residents should have the opportunity to see the full study findings and understand the options before the Commission acts.
Stormwater infrastructure is not a glamorous topic, but it affects flood management, water quality, and neighborhood conditions across Winter Springs. Getting the maintenance plan and the rate structure right matters. I will continue sharing updates as this process moves forward.
If you have recently received a letter saying you need backflow testing done on your property, do not dismiss it — and do not assume it is a scam. This is a legitimate notice, and it matters for the safety of our community’s drinking water.
The City of Winter Springs has operated a formal Backflow Prevention and Cross Connection Control Program since 1990. That program exists for one simple reason: to protect the water you and your neighbors drink every day.
What Is a Backflow Prevention Device?
A backflow prevention device is a mechanical safeguard installed on properties that use potable (drinking) water for outdoor irrigation or landscaping. Its purpose is to prevent water that has already left the public water system from flowing back into the drinking water supply after it has exited.
In plain terms: once water leaves a clean pipe and enters your irrigation system, it can pick up fertilizers, pesticides, soil bacteria, and other contaminants. Without a properly functioning backflow preventer, that water could reverse direction — a phenomenon called
backsiphonage or backpressure — and re-enter the pipes that supply your home and your neighbors’ homes with drinking water.
If your property has an active irrigation system connected to the city’s potable water supply, you almost certainly have one of these devices. And if you have one, the City requires it to be tested annually.
Why Does It Need to Be Tested Every Year?
Like any mechanical device, backflow preventers wear over time. Seals, valves, and check components can degrade, allowing contaminants to slip through even when everything looks fine from the outside. Annual testing — performed by a certified technician — confirms the device is functioning as designed and catches any failures before they become a public health risk.
Testing typically takes between five and twenty minutes. If a device fails, it must be repaired and retested promptly. Devices that repeatedly fail are required to be replaced entirely.
Property owners are responsible for the cost of testing, maintenance, and any repairs. Testing can be done either by the City’s certified technicians or by a private licensed contractor — with results submitted to the City.
What If You Got a Letter?
The City of Winter Springs sends notices when it is time for a property’s device to be tested. If you received one, here is what to do:
• Do not ignore it or assume it is spam.
• Contact the City of Winter Springs Utility Department to confirm the notice and get next steps.
• Schedule your test with either a City technician or a certified private contractor.
• Keep records of testing and any repairs, and provide copies to the Utility Department.
What If You No Longer Have an Irrigation System?
Not everyone with a backflow preventer still needs one. If you have capped or permanently decommissioned your irrigation system, that removes the cross-connection to potable water — and with it, the testing requirement. This is a personal decision, but if your irrigation system remains active and connected to the city water supply, the device and its annual testing requirement remain in place.
Our Neighbors in Oviedo Are Talking About This Too
Oviedo Mayor Megan Sladek recently shared a helpful reminder about backflow prevention on social media that is worth passing along to Winter Springs residents as well. Her message reinforced something important: this is not a bureaucratic formality. It is a real protection for the water we all rely on every day.
Learn More
The City of Winter Springs publishes its full Backflow Prevention and Cross Connection Control Manual on the city website. It outlines the types of devices in use, installation standards, testing requirements, and what happens in the event of non-compliance. If you have questions about whether your property is affected, the City’s Utility Department is the right place to start.
Protecting our drinking water is a shared responsibility. Staying current with required testing is one of the simplest ways each of us can do our part for the community we call home.
Stormwater Pond Maintenance Program Continued for Further Review
At our February 9, 2026 City Commission meeting, we had a significant and necessary discussion about Winter Springs’ Stormwater Pond Maintenance Program.
This conversation directly impacts infrastructure, flood prevention, environmental stewardship, and future utility rates for residents. Because of that, it deserves careful and deliberate review.
The Scope of the System
Winter Springs has 368 stormwater ponds throughout the City .
These ponds fall into several categories:
48 Public ponds maintained by the City
95 Hybrid ponds that receive stormwater from City roads
180 Private ponds
12 maintained by FDOT
33 maintained by Seminole County
Of the 95 hybrid ponds, 55 have recorded maintenance responsibilities, while 40 do not have clear recorded agreements . That distinction is critical as we evaluate legal responsibility and fairness to taxpayers.
Current vs. Anticipated Level of Service
Currently, pond maintenance includes:
Monthly vegetation inspection and mowing
Debris removal
Minor erosion repairs
Limited visual inspections
The proposed enhanced level of service would add:
Major erosion repairs
Yearly structural inspections
Proactive sediment removal
Outlet protection and control structure repair
While proactive maintenance improves long term resilience, it also increases cost.
Financial Impact to Residents
The presentation outlined three maintenance scenarios and their projected impact to the stormwater utility rate:
Scenario 1
Maintain only public ponds
48 ponds
Estimated increase of $1.40 per month
Scenario 2
Public ponds plus hybrid ponds with recorded agreements
103 ponds
Estimated increase of $3.45 per month
Scenario 3
Public ponds plus all hybrid ponds
143 ponds
Estimated increase of $4.80 per month
Each scenario represents a significant policy decision about responsibility, fairness, and long term financial planning.
Key Concerns Raised
During discussion, Commissioners raised several important questions:
Clarifying which ponds the City is legally responsible for
Distinguishing between ponds that directly serve public infrastructure versus private property
Ensuring fairness for taxpayers across all neighborhoods
Reviewing documentation for hybrid ponds that may lack recorded maintenance agreements
Before asking residents to absorb potential rate increases, we must ensure that responsibility is clearly defined and legally supported.
Why We Continued the Item
Given the complexity of the system and the financial impact involved, the Commission agreed to continue this item. We have requested a more detailed breakdown, including spreadsheet level analysis of pond classifications, maintenance obligations, and long term cost projections before any rate related decisions are made.
Stormwater resilience is a long term priority for Winter Springs. After the flooding our community has experienced in recent years, we know infrastructure matters.
However, transparency and fairness must guide the process. We will move forward carefully, thoughtfully, and with full accountability to the residents who fund this system.
—
Victoria K. Bruce
Winter Springs Commissioner District 2
Protecting Winter Springs The Economy and The Environment
Clean, safe drinking water is one of the most important public services a city can provide. To help ensure that standard is upheld, the City of Winter Springs is implementing a new Cross-Connection Control Program to protect the city’s potable water system from contamination and maintain full compliance with Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) regulations.
This program is a proactive step to prevent the risk of pollutants entering the drinking water supply through improper plumbing connections or system failures.
Understanding Cross-Connections and Backflow
A cross-connection is any physical link between a public or private drinking water system and a source of non-potable water, such as irrigation lines, industrial systems, or cooling systems.
When pressure changes occur in the system, water from these non-potable sources can sometimes reverse direction and flow back into the public supply. This phenomenon is known as backflow.
There are two main types of backflow:
Backpressure backflow occurs when water pressure from a non-potable source exceeds the pressure of the potable system.
Backsiphonage happens when negative pressure (a vacuum effect) pulls contaminants into the potable water line.
Both situations can introduce hazardous substances—such as chemicals, fertilizers, or bacteria—into the public water supply if not properly managed.
Goals of the Cross-Connection Control Program
The new cross-connection control program aims to proactively identify and manage potential hazards throughout the city’s water system. Its core objectives include:
Identifying and Documenting HazardsLocating potential cross-connection and backflow risks at commercial, industrial, institutional, and select residential properties.
Monitoring and Tracking Backflow TestingEnsuring all Backflow Preventer Assemblies are regularly tested, documented, and in compliance with city and state requirements.
Establishing a Centralized DatabaseCreating a cloud-based system to store and manage inspection results, testing schedules, and compliance records. All data will remain the property of the City of Winter Springs.
GIS Integration for Better AnalysisEnsuring the program’s data is compatible with ESRI ArcGIS/ArcMap for enhanced mapping and system-wide analysis of water infrastructure.
Training and EducationProviding on-site training for city staff on cross-connection prevention fundamentals and proper program management.
Program Review and OptimizationConducting a full evaluation of the City’s existing program and implementing improvements where necessary.
How the Program Works
The implementation process includes:
Cross-Connection Surveys and Inspections: Field inspections will identify and document potential hazards throughout Winter Springs’ service area.
Compliance Tracking: Each device will be logged into a Backflow Prevention Assembly Inventory with updated testing schedules.
Property Owner Notifications: Building owners will receive reminders and compliance deadlines for upcoming inspections or corrective actions.
Coordination with Certified Testers: Only qualified professionals will perform testing and repairs to ensure the highest safety standards.
These measures ensure that all backflow prevention devices are properly maintained, helping to protect the integrity of Winter Springs’ drinking water system.
Why It Matters
Cross-connection control may not be something residents think about every day, but it’s one of the most important safeguards in maintaining a clean, safe, and reliable water system.
By proactively managing backflow risks and maintaining strong oversight, Winter Springs is taking responsible action to protect public health and preserve water quality for generations to come.
“Our goal is to stay ahead of potential risks, protect our water infrastructure, and maintain full transparency with our residents.”
— Victoria K. Bruce, City Commissioner, District 2
I believe in full transparency, especially when it comes to how your city government operates. The latest report from the Florida Auditor General, delivered to the Mayor on October 22, 2025, outlines eight key findings about how Winter Springs is functioning behind the scenes.
You deserve to know the facts. Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly from this latest review.
✅ The Good
There are a few steps in the right direction worth noting:
Procurement is working. The City has corrected past issues with how contracts and vendors are selected. Purchases are now being made fairly, transparently, and according to policy.
Anti-fraud measures are in place. A formal anti-fraud policy is now adopted, improving protections for your tax dollars.
Public records are mostly on track. 29 of 30 sampled requests were completed on time with no fees.
⚠️ The Bad
Progress has been made, but much remains unfinished:
Oversight is weak. Although an engineering firm is reviewing water utility operations, the City hasn’t fully implemented policies to enforce performance or cost controls.
Sales tax money was misused. $103,000 of infrastructure surtax funds were spent on hurricane-related work—outside legal use and not properly recorded as loans.
Internal controls need work. Pre-approvals for city purchase card (P-card) use aren’t documented as required. Public records fees lack backup documentation.
Turnover at the top. The City cycled through three different City Managers since 2023, and Commissioners are still violating charter rules by bypassing the City Manager and giving direction to staff.
❌ The Ugly
This one is serious—and still unresolved:
Wastewater violations continue. Despite prior warnings, the City is still out of compliance with environmental laws. This has resulted in:
A $51,310 fine
A $695,850 consent-order mitigation project
Repeated failures at both wastewater treatment facilities
Harmful overflows into Howell Creek
Ongoing FDEP violations
This is unacceptable. Clean water is not optional—it’s a basic right. While the City has blamed its contractor, it remains our responsibility to enforce accountability. A new operator began on October 1, 2025. I will be watching this transition very closely on your behalf.
My Commitment to You
As your elected representative, I take this audit seriously. We can’t fix what we don’t face, and this report makes it clear we still have major issues to correct.
You can read the full preliminary audit findings for yourself here:
I will continue to push for transparency, water quality improvements, and better management of your tax dollars. If we want a city that’s fiscally strong, environmentally safe, and governed with integrity, we have to demand better.
