News & Events
Indianapolis Water invests $12 million to protect customers from potential pathogens
INDIANAPOLIS – Indianapolis Water is putting the finishing touches on a new, $12 million ultraviolet disinfection system at its largest water treatment plant, White River.
The new disinfection system adds another layer of protection against viruses and potential pathogens, such as cryptosporidium and giardia, which can cause gastro-intestinal illness.
“This additional treatment process will enhance our water quality,” said Matthew Klein, executive director of the Indianapolis Department of Waterworks. “White River is the first of four surface water plants to complete the federally-mandated upgrade.”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires all surface water treatment plants to comply by 2012 with the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule. The T.W. Moses Treatment Plant is currently under construction.
“Because these are unfunded mandates, revenue to fund ultraviolet upgrades at the White River North and Fall Creek Treatment Plants will be included in our general rate case, which will be filed with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission,” Klein said.
The project constructed five ultraviolet reactors (four online reactors and one backup), system components and piping. It also built a new building to house the UV system and provides a backup generator and power supply.
Veolia Water Indianapolis, the utility’s contract operator, began construction last year and is currently testing the UV system.
Built in the early 1900s, the White River Treatment Plant is a conventional alum coagulation treatment facility. Raw water travels from the White River in Broad Ripple, down the 7-mile Central Canal to the treatment facility, where it travels through various treatment processes, including sedimentation basins and filters. Once the UV system goes online, the water will pass through the UV system prior to entering the chlorine contact basin and then on to the finished water storage basin. The treatment plant is rated to produce 96 million gallons of water per day and provides 600,000 Indianapolis residents with clean, safe drinking water.
The Indianapolis Department of Waterworks owns and manages Indianapolis Water, which serves about 1 million people in Central Indiana, and contracts the system’s operation to Veolia Water Indianapolis.
