Planning Tomorrow’s Water System Today: Inside OUC’s Water Engineering Department

As Central Florida grows, the demand for safe, reliable water grows right with it. Ensuring that the system keeps pace with new development — and remains dependable for generations — requires strategy, foresight and constant refinement. OUC’s Water Engineering Department leads the way.

Shaping The Region’s Water Future

This team designs the backbone of new neighborhoods, commercial centers and community developments. Engineers work closely with builders and review detailed plans to ensure every project complies with Florida’s safety, environmental and construction standards. Before a new water main even carries water, it’s disinfected, pressure-tested and verified to perform as designed.

At the same time, engineers partner with developers, businesses and community partners early in the planning process. Using advanced hydraulic modeling, they can forecast how future demands will impact the water system, determine whether adequate pressure is available, and identify improvements required before projects move forward. This proactive approach keeps growth on schedule while protecting system performance and ensuring fire safety.

Restoration and Reinforcing Existing Infrastructure

Planning for the future also means caring for the infrastructure already serving customers. OUC’s engineers regularly inspect the network to determine which water mains need replacing before issues arise.

“Water mains used to be made from cast iron, which was a good product 80 years ago. But today we use ductile iron, which is much stronger,” says Charles DiGerlando, Water Engineering Manager, who adds that the department refers to this work as R&R – Restoration and Rehabilitation.

Quality is a Top Priority – From Materials to Final Checks

Reliability starts with the materials selected and the standards behind them. Engineers regularly gather feedback from Water Construction, Operations and Maintenance teams, whose real-world insights help refine specifications and ensure every pipe, valve, and fitting meets OUC’s high standards.

“They’re our eyes and ears in the field and can tell us if things are operating as they should,” said DiGerlando.

The team also monitors the overall health of the water distribution system. Hydraulic models and system monitoring further help engineers track water movement and identify areas that may need additional circulation to maintain freshness and disinfectant levels — supporting water quality efforts across the system, just as highlighted in other water‑team articles.

Committed to Reliable Service – Today and Tomorrow

At the heart of every blueprint, model and inspection is a simple mission: deliver safe, dependable, high-quality drinking water to customers now and for generations to come. The Water Engineering team’s work, whether designing new infrastructure or strengthening what’s already in place, reinforces OUC’s commitment to reliability and keeps the region’s future flowing.

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Exploring OUC’s Water Teams

Water Engineering works closely with other teams at OUC in serving customers across its 200-square-mile service territory. As part of this six-part series, you’ll learn about Water Production, which pulls water from the Floridan Aquifer; Water Distribution, which maintains mains, service lines and critical infrastructure; Water Operations, which provides emergency response to leaks and other issues, as well as proactive maintenance; Water Metering, which collects data for customer billing and system monitoring; and the Water Quality Lab, which tests water at multiple points in the system.