PUBLIC NOTICE TO WATER SYSTEM CUSTOMERS – Boynton Beach

Report on Temporary Water Disinfection Process Change and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

This report details a temporary, planned change in the water treatment disinfection process by the City of Boynton Beach Water Utility. The modification to free chlorination, scheduled from July 3, 2025, to July 24, 2025, is a standard preventive maintenance procedure. This action directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality, safe drinking water, thereby protecting public health and contributing to a sustainable urban environment.

2.0 Procedural Details and Timeline

1. Action: Temporary conversion of the water disinfection process to free chlorination.
2. Objective: To perform routine preventive maintenance on the water distribution system to ensure the highest quality of potable water.
3. Duration: The procedure will commence on Thursday, July 3, 2025, and conclude on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
4. Compliance: Throughout this period, the city’s drinking water will continue to meet or exceed all Federal and State water quality standards.

3.0 Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This proactive infrastructure maintenance initiative is in direct alignment with the following key Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The primary goal of this procedure is to ensure universal access to safe and affordable drinking water (Target 6.1). By employing a stronger disinfection method, the utility reinforces its commitment to providing a reliable supply of clean water for all residents.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: Maintaining a high standard of water purity is fundamental to public health. This preventive action helps safeguard the community against waterborne contaminants, directly contributing to the well-being of all citizens.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Reliable access to basic services, including safe water, is a cornerstone of sustainable urban development. This maintenance ensures the resilience and safety of the city’s essential water infrastructure.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The utility demonstrates responsible management by issuing specific advisories for the care of aquatic life in controlled environments (e.g., aquariums, holding tanks), acknowledging the different chemical properties of free chlorine and its potential impact.

4.0 Public Advisory and Recommendations

4.1 General Public

• A slight and temporary change in the taste and odor of the tap water may be noticeable due to the presence of chlorine.
• To mitigate this, residents can place an open container of drinking water in a refrigerator for a few hours, which will allow the chlorine to dissipate.

4.2 Special Considerations

Due to the chemical differences between removing chlorine and chloramine residuals, the following users are advised to seek professional guidance for the duration of this period:

• Users of home dialysis machines.
• Owners of tropical fish aquariums.
• Managers of facilities with holding tanks for fish and shellfish.

5.0 Contact for Further Information

For additional details regarding this water quality maintenance procedure, please contact the Water Quality Division.

• Phone: 561-742-6964
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  This is the primary SDG addressed in the article. The entire notice revolves around the actions taken by the City of Boynton Beach Water Utility to ensure the quality and safety of the public drinking water supply. The article discusses the “water treatment disinfection process,” maintaining “potable water” of the “highest quality,” and performing “preventive maintenance” on the “Water Distribution System.” These actions are central to the goal of providing clean and safe water for all.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.

  The article directly relates to this target by describing the utility’s proactive measures to maintain the safety of the drinking water provided to its customers. The temporary switch to “free chlorination” is a “standard practice” aimed at ensuring the water “remains of the highest quality.” The assurance that the water will “continue to meet ALL Federal and State water quality standards” explicitly addresses the “safe” drinking water component of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.

  This indicator is implied through the utility’s actions and statements. A “safely managed” drinking water service is one that is free from contamination and available when needed. The article’s focus on a “preventive maintenance procedure” and the explicit commitment to meeting “ALL Federal and State water quality standards” are direct references to the operational and quality control measures that define a safely managed service. The compliance with these standards serves as the measurable component for this indicator.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: boynton-beach.org