The waters have receded and access to the Winter Park Chain of Lakes has resumed, along with the daily schedule at the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour. City staff stated that restrictive measures were lifted after the Lakes Division determined levels returned to normal on Monday, Sept. 16.
The city’s Flood Management Guide calls for lakes to be closed when levels are above 66.1 feet due to flood risks and possible property damage. A week of higher-than-average rainfall resulted in Lake Virginia rising to a level of 66.3 feet on September 10, but lowering during a weekend of fewer storms. Residents are advised to check the City of Winter Park website, social media, and Nextdoor updates for weather-related information as afternoon rains persist and for the duration of the 2024 Hurricane Season.
Meanwhile, the Water & Wastewater Utilities Department is building an inventory of the city’s estimated 25,000 water service lines as required by the Environmental Protection Agency. The routine assessments are unrelated to recent rainfall and are meant to determine whether pipes are made of lead, non-lead, or if the material is unknown. City staff have been conducting the assessments since late August and may visit properties to access meter boxes to determine the make-up of the water service system.
Owners of residential and commercial properties who know the materials contained in their service lines can assist by completing an online survey at cityofwinterpark.org/leadcopper. A statement regarding the assessments notes that no lead piping has been found in the city’s water treatment plants and distribution system lines. And due to building code changes, homes built after 1989 do not contain lead pipes.
Survey findings will be posted on a web-based interactive map, located at cityofwinterpark.org/leadcopper, on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Should a property be identified as having lead-based lines, the property owner will be notified immediately. Property owners with non-lead lines will not receive further notice, and property owners with lines that have not been identified will be notified by mail in October.
Answers to frequently asked questions can be found at cityofwinterpark.org/leadcopper. For more information, call 407-599-3219.