A New Water Plant for the 21st Century
Planning for the new water plant began approximately 10 years ago, and identified a multi-phased approach to replacing aging infrastructure and maintaining regulatory compliance.
Key factors that led to the construction of a new plant are outlined below:
Why Rebuild
This Facility
A convergence of factors has led to the need to rebuild West Parish so we can provide safe, reliable drinking water for our region into the 21st century.
Aging Infrastructure
Climate
Change
Expanding
Regulations
New West Parish WTP
Aging Infrastructure
The "newest" parts of West Parish are a half-century old and beyond their useful life, increasing the risk of failure.
Climate Change
Extreme precipitation carries higher levels of organics into our reservoir than the existing treatment plant was designed to remove, and stresses aging infrastructure.
Expanding Regulations
Water quality regulations now cover many more compounds than they did when the plant was designed.
Resolving Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs)
DBPs form when disinfectants such as chlorine react with dissolved organic material naturally found in water. Haloacetic acids (HAA5) and Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) are regulated by federal standards. The addition of dissolved air flotation (DAF) to our new treatment process will remove more organics from our water, reducing DBP formation to meet regulatory standards.
Project Improvements Include:
The improvements plan includes several key project areas, including:
New Backwash Facility
Replaced obsolete infrastructure and enables treatment during construction
Dissolved Air Flotation
Removes more organics prior to filtration
Filter Upgrades and Expansion
New, modern filter beds to protect water quality
New Disinfection System
Safer process to remove pathogens
New Electrical System
Supports new treatment processes
Elimination of Slow Sand Filters
Replaces obsolete infrastructure to improve water quality