A $20 million project to retrofit the Middleton Water Treatment Plant is expected to be completed this fall. The original plant went online in 1976. The upgrade is expected to extend the plant operations for another 20 to 30 years of life while permitting it to meet new Safe Drinking Water Act by 2015. The renovation and addition involves construction filtration, ozone treatment and sludge dewatering buildings.
Treating the water uses both chemical and mechanical processes. The water enters a flash mixer where it gets an initial dose of chemicals to coagulate and precipitate out solids. The water also gets a dose of ozone. The flow of the water is slowed, allowing heavy solids to settle out. The water is pumped through sand and carbon filters. The sand removes particles and the carbon absorbs organic materials. The water from the filters then passes into a clear well to be disinfected with chloramine before being sent out into the water system.
One of the most significant upgrades is an ozone treatment plant built at the front of the building.
When this form of treatment is up and running, the pond water will first be treated with ozone, which removes organic materials and kills parasites. The ozone also aids in the precipitation and sedimentation process, and helps eliminate harmful byproducts from other disinfectants.