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A look at the Groveport water plant
(by Rick Palsgrove, Southeast Editor - May 06, 2009)
Water service and the condition of the village water plant is a hot topic in the village of Groveport.
Village officials are reviewing two future water service options: maintain the village water system or connect to Columbus water by 2012. (See information on these two options at the end of this article.)
A factor in the considerations is the condition of the village's water plant. In a letter to village officials dated April 21, Carolyn O'Neal, an environmental specialist with the Ohio EPA, outlined deficiencies her organization believes are present in the water plant.
For a more in depth explanation of the Ohio EPA's findings, the Messenger conducted an interview with O'Neal on May 5:
Rick Palsgrove: How many more years of useful life does the Groveport water plant have?
Carolyn O'Neal: "One cannot say exactly when the Groveport water treatment plant will fail to adequately treat the public drinking water supply. The water plant at the current time, is acceptable although improvements are needed. The water operators are doing an excellent job maintaining the old iron filters and all Ohio EPA standards are currently reported to be below the maximum allowable levels. We are not aware of any water quality complaints at this time."
RP: Has the Ohio EPA set a time limit for when updates and repairs to the water plant must be made?
CO: "The village is strongly encouraged to take a proactive approach to repair/replace equipment before it breaks down. If the village fails to meet Ohio EPA standards, actions will be required to be taken at that time to correct the deficiencies. A routine preventive maintenance program is recommended for all public water systems to keep emergency situations to a minimum."
RP: Your letter notes the wells have a "high susceptibility to contamination." What is the nature of the potential contamination to the wells?
CO: "The original wells, located on the water plant property, have been abandoned. We are referring to the Cruiser Park wells that were drilled in 2003.
The Ohio EPA completed a water source susceptibility analysis for the village based on information provided in Groveport's December 2003 Source Water Assessment and Protection Plan completed by EMH&T, Inc. A high susceptibility to contamination was determined based on the on the aquifer's sensitivity to contamination and the types of potential contaminant sources located within a five-year time of travel (protection area for the wells).
The wellfield draws from sand and gravel deposits with an overlay of sand, silt and clay layers that provide limited protection from surface contaminants. Eight regulated facilities within Groveport's protection area were identified. They include a power plant, a waste management facility, and commercial facilities and schools with underground storage tanks. Also, within a one year time of travel protection area, is South Hamilton Road (heavy truck traffic).
Implementation of protective strategies such as educational outreach to businesses and homeowners and zoning ordinances is recommended."
RP: Of the water plant deficiencies listed in your letter, which are the most serious and why?
CO: "There are several factors that presently are cause for concern:
•Structural integrity of the building should be determined and repairs/replacement as needed.
•The oldest and most worn components, the iron filters, have corroded through and have been patch welded several times over the years. The tanks need to be replaced.
•Install aeration and a detention/iron reaction tank for more effective oxidation of iron.
•Lack of adequate dehumidification will allow the corrosion to continue. Due to the pure nature of the operation, a high degree of condensation occurs on the steel tanks, valves and all associated piping.
•Raw untreated water is used to backwash (clean) the filters. This is not a recommended practice as the raw water contains the iron the filters are removing. The filters remove iron and then are backwashed with iron laden water twice daily. It is one continuous cycle. Filters should be backwashed with filtered water from a clearwell (finished water holding tank) or the elevated storage tank. Filters are typically backwashed no more frequently than twice a week. The condition of the filter media (material that filters out iron) may also be a factor. Over time, the media becomes fouled with iron that can no longer be backwashed out and the media needs to be replaced.
•Lack of a clearwell (finished water holding tank) for disinfection detention and for backwashing filters."
RP: What is the Ohio EPA's opinion of the overall general condition of the Groveport water plant?
CO: "The overall condition of the Groveport water plant at the current time is acceptable, but needs improvement."
RP: What is the quality of the water being produced at the Groveport water plant?
CO: "The overall quality at this point appears to be good. We are not aware of any complaints on water quality and the system is in compliance with all drinking water regulations."
The numbers
Finance Director Ken Salak provided council with an estimate of what the quarterly water/sewer bill would be for customers on the Columbus system and those on the Groveport system. The comparison used a three person household using 8,000 gallons per quarter as Salak said this represented an average customer. The costs under this example:
•for the Columbus system would be: 2009: $277; 2010: $301; 2011: $326; 2012: $354: and from 2013 to 2022: $363.
•for the Groveport system would be: 2009: $275; 2010: $310; 2011: $352; 2012: $408; 2013: $464; 2014: $520; 2015: $555; 2016: $562; 2017: $566; and from 2018 to 2022: $570.
Background
EMH&T engineer Steve Farst has presented two options for the village: maintain the village water system or connect to Columbus water by 2012.
In early 2008, Finance Director Ken Salak indicated the Groveport water system had 1,155 customers. This included 1,085 residences, 59 businesses, and 11 governmental buildings. The Columbus water system within the village limits had 829 customers, including 765 residences and 64 businesses. (These numbers have changed some since then, but an official tally was not available. However, Farst noted there are now an estimated 1,200 customers on the Groveport water system.)
The Groveport system option
Farst said, to keep the village water system functioning, the town's water plant (built in 1936 and refurbished several times since) would have to be replaced by 2012, when it is projected to reach capacity, to meet Ohio EPA requirements.
Also, the "tin man" water tower located on Buckeye Alley would have to be replaced, a transmission line installed to connect a new tank to the water plant, and water line upgrades in some areas. These potential capital water improvements on the village system would cost an estimated $7.2 million.
According to an EMH&T study presented in 2008, within Groveport's existing water service area there are a limited number of platted lots still to be developed in the village and the engineers believe they are not enough to sustain substantial growth for the village water system.
The Columbus system option
Farst said the cost to connect to the Columbus water system would be an estimated $899,493, which would include: installing a pressure reduction vault at the connection point, replacing 1,200 water meters in the existing village water grid, tearing down the two existing water towers, and dismantling the existing water plant.
Farst noted there are already two points of connection to Columbus water already in place in the village.
If Groveport decides to connect with Columbus, contractual arrangements would need to be ironed out, replacement meter costs determined, a continuous improvement plan for aging water lines would be established, and water line breaks would be addressed by both Columbus and Groveport.
Farst said the expectation would be that, if Groveport tapped into Columbus water, it would receive its water from the Parsons Avenue water plant, which uses ground water from the same aquifer the current Groveport water plant uses. But, he said, Morris' negotiations with Columbus would have to confirm that.
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