Safe, Reliable Drinking Water

A naturally clean water source

OUC’s water comes from the Lower Floridan Aquifer, an underground reservoir that in many places is a quarter of a mile below the earth’s surface. The Aquifer is fed by rainwater that is filtered through hundreds of feet of rock, undergoing a natural cleansing process. After pumping water from the Aquifer to our water plants, OUC carefully treats the water to ensure its safety and enhance its quality.

Using ozone to produce great tasting water

OUC uses ozone treatment at its seven water treatment plants to produce high quality, great tasting tap water, proudly dubbed H2OUC.

Ozone is the strongest disinfectant available and reduces the amount of chlorine that must be added. The result is clean, fresh-tasting water with a sparkling appearance. Since 1995, OUC has converted five of its water plants to ozone treatment and built three new ozone plants. As required by law, we add chlorine to our water to maintain the high quality as it flows through pipes to customer taps. Fluoride is added to promote healthy teeth. Learn more about flouride. We also add sodium hydroxide to prevent copper and lead from leaching into the drinking water from customers’ own plumbing, the primary source of these elements in our area.

View the current OUC Water Quality Report

All OUC water plants are equipped with state-of-the-art security systems that include intrusion-detection systems, alarms, cameras and security fences around the perimeter of the properties. Armed security guards and law enforcement officers regularly patrol the facilities. You can be assured that OUC remains vigilant in monitoring and protecing our water facilities. The safety of your water is our highest priority.

Additional Information

• Learn more about water conservation

Safe, Reliable Drinking Water

Alternative Water Sources

To prepare for our region’s future needs, OUC has taken a leadership role in the search for innovative, reliable solutions while still providing clean, great-tasting water for our customers today. One solution is the development of alternative water supplies to meet future drinking water demands. In addition, OUC is focusing on reclaimed water, highly treated wastewater safe for human contact, to supply anticipated landscape and lawn irrigation needs. Through regional partnerships with the City of Orlando and other Central Florida water utilities, OUC is actively developing these alternative water sources.

OUC’s new Water Enforcement Team is hitting the streets of Orlando to help make customers aware of the St. Johns River Water Management District landscape irrigation guidelines. With the end of Daylight Saving Time on November 6, watering will be allowed only one day a week until the second Sunday in March.

The patrollers are on the lookout for residences and businesses that are watering on the wrong day or at the wrong time. When they spot a violation, they’ll leave a notice at the property with informational material and an offer to set up a courtesy appointment to reset the irrigation timer.

With irrigation accounting for more than half of Central Florida’s total water consumption, helping customers reprogram their timers is an effective way to greatly reduce their water consumption and monthly water costs.

Customers can call 407.658.7777 to report a watering violation in their neighborhood.

Related Articles & Info

• Daylight Saving Time: Second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November
• Eastern Standard Time: First Sunday in November until the second Sunday in March
• Water only when needed and not between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Water for no more than one hour per zone.
• Restrictions apply to private wells and pumps, ground or surface water and water from public and private utilities.
• If you have planted a section of new grass or plants, that area may be watered every day for the first 30 days and every other day for the next 30 days as needed, after which you should return to the regular watering schedule. Remember, only the new plants and grass may be watered every day.
• If you need to run a test of your irrigation system, you may run the system at anytime for 20 minutes per zone.