Upgrades to Increase WTP Capacity

Published on by in Maintenance

Upgrades to Increase WTP Capacity

City of Claremore is investing $17,277,375 to expand the water treatment plant’s gallons-per-day capacity from 6 million to 8 million.

The project is just over 60 % complete and it is scheduled to be finished by July or August of next year.

Claremore averages 3.8 million gallons of water used per day, but during the summer months consumption can spike to over 5 million gallons a day, and the water treatment plant is pushed to capacity.

From start to faucet: Upgrades will increase WTP capacity “When consumption is high it affects the contact time with the chemicals,” said Thomas Harris, water treatment plant supervisor. “Right now, we are barely keeping up with the town.

The new project is an upgrade of the current treatment process.

The water treatment process begins by pulling water from Claremore Lake.

It is first treated with chlorine dioxide, a pre-disinfectant. A new chemical treatment room will be added during the upgrade.

“We have the capacity to bring the Oologah Lake water directly into the plant, but the characteristics of water are so different that they don’t mix very well,” said Harris.

“By putting it into the lake, we get one mixture of water, and it is easy for us to treat.”

Next, the water travels to a basement where powder-activated carbon is added for additional taste and odor control. Poly aluminium chloride is added as the primary coagulate, which helps bring particles in the water together. Copper sulfate is also added to control algae.

A splitter box divides the water between two clarifiers, and the upgrade includes a new splitter box.

Two arms spinning in the clarifier slowly agitate water. That gives the chemicals a chance to mix with dirt and algae.

Currently there are two clarifiers, each about 20 feet deep. One can hold 660,000 gallons, and a smaller one can hold 330,000 gallons. As part of the upgrade, the plant will receive a new 660,000-gallon clarifier. The other two clarifiers will also be upgraded.

Clarifiers are cleaned twice a year. The water is completely drained and fire hoses are used to spray down the walls.

After the clarifiers, the water travels to a junction box where sodium hydroxide is added for PH control, and phosphate is added for corrosion control.

There are five filters at the plant, and two more will be added as a part of the expansion. The multi-stage filters catch any particle above 0.4 microns.

The final stage of the water treatment process includes a chlorine dose for disinfection. The water sits in a clearwell to allow contact time with the chlorine.

Finally, high service pumps send water out to the town, and the journey ends at the faucets of area homes.

A new Clearwell is being constructed for the upgrade. It has more capacity and will allow more holding time with the chlorine.

The expansion project also includes a new low-lift station, office space and backup generators for the plant. The project should also help the water treatment plant stay within water treatment regulations.

This month the city is completing lead and copper tests, which occur every three years, and results will be reported by the end of September.

“We have never had a problem with lead or copper,” said Harris.

The city received a $21 million loan for the project from RCB Bank, and will pay a total of $4,503,945 in interest for a total payment of $25,503,945.

In addition to the $17,277,375 project cost, the city is paying $2,105,000 — or 12 percent of the contract price — for administration of the contract. 

Any funds left over after the project is completed will be available for other public works projects.

Source: The Daily Progress

Media

Taxonomy