At the Forefront of Environmental Stewardship, Altamonte Springs Is Committed to Innovating Long-Term Solutions and Building a Sustainable Future for All
The future of sustainability starts with progressive action today. Altamonte Springs is constantly innovating and finding new ways to advance our community. For decades, the City’s innovators have excelled in out-of-the-box thinking, which is key to implementing viable solutions for modern-day challenges. Today, local innovation continues to develop through new projects and opportunities. As a forward-thinking municipality, Altamonte Springs has demonstrated commitment to both residents and the environment and will do so for years to come.
Project APRICOT
The City’s sustainability journey began in the early 1980s with a unique program called "A Prototype Realistic Innovative Community of Today," or simply Project APRICOT. By retrofitting existing neighborhoods and developments, the project made it possible to deliver reclaimed water to almost every property in the City for irrigation, car washing and other non-drinking purposes.
Project APRICOT served as one of the first eco-friendly initiatives that helped Altamonte Springs evolve into a national leader in water conservation and reuse. The project’s implemented model is still used by planners and engineers today.
A-FIRST
The City expanded its water reuse efforts with A-FIRST, an initiative to collect I-4 stormwater runoff and treat it to be used for irrigation. In a first-of-its-kind partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the St. Johns River Water Management District, city engineers developed this alternative to roadside drainage ponds.
Stormwater is treated and redirected into the City’s reclaimed water system. Excess water is sent to the City of Apopka, which is experiencing water shortages. The project also reduces impacts to area springs and improves water quality in the Little Wekiva River.
pureALTA
Altamonte Springs created pureALTA to address our community’s future water needs and diversify the City’s water portfolio. The project utilizes cutting-edge technology to purify reclaimed water to drinking water standards. By exploring innovative water treatment processes, the City demonstrates energy-efficient technologies and extends the use of existing water sources. With the mission to build a safe and sustainable water supply in mind, pureALTA benefits today’s community and future generations.
pureALTA received a 2018 Market-Changing Water Technology award from the International Water Association in Tokyo, Japan and was the only pilot honored from the U.S. The project also won the 2017 WateReuse Innovative Project of the Year at the nation’s preeminent water reuse conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
Altamonte Electric Utility
Leading the way in sustainability, the City continues to innovate with the Altamonte Electric Utility (AEU). The Altamonte Springs City Commission approved the creation of the AEU in 2017 with the purpose of exploring renewable energy sources and saving taxpayer dollars.
A primary goal for the AEU is to self-power City facilities. Altamonte Springs is able to offer a wide variety of public services because the City runs as a 24/7 operation. Utilizing alternative energy options in supporting that operation is critical, and the utility’s first major renewable energy project will help accomplish that.
The AEU is installing a one megawatt floating solar array. The array, which floats above a stormwater retention pond, will supply power to the City’s water reclamation facility starting in 2021. Made up of 2,430 photovoltaic panels, the solar array is the largest in Florida and the second largest in the nation.
