Optimized Pre-Treatment
 A key element of the water treatment process is the added capability to reduce pH of the source water from its typical range of 7.5 – 8.5 to approximately 6.4. This reduction in pH has been demonstrated to optimize removal of naturally occurring organic material, which otherwise would react with chlorine to form regulated disinfection by-products.
As a result, this process modification directly reduces the levels of disinfection by-products in the distribution system. A secondary benefit is that the lower pH allows use of significantly lower dosages of coagulant chemical (aluminum sulfate), which results in a corresponding reduction in the quantity of residual solids produced. |
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High-Efficiency Clarification
 A major improvement to the original conventional settling basins is the use of modern high-efficiency clarification technology. Each settling basin is equipped with 875 stainless steel inclined plates, which effectively increase the available settling area by many times.This treatment process allows suspended solids to settle within much smaller footprint, thus significantly reducing construction cost.The flow control characteristics of the inclined plates also maintain consistent treatment performance even during storm and runoff events that can significantly influence Mohawk River water quality.
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Granular Activated Carbon Filters
 The 10 gravity filters (six existing/rebuilt and four new) have been equipped with granular activated carbon (GAC) filter media. In addition to removing small particles and microorganisms that are not removed through settling, the GAC media provides continuous removal of taste- and odor-causing compounds present in the untreated water. The result is better and more consistent tasting water for the Town’s water customers.The GAC media will be replaced periodically to replenish its adsorptive capacity.
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Waste Handling
 Five new asphalt-lined freeze-dry beds were constructed to provide dewatering of residual solids removed in the settling basins.These high-efficiency freeze-dry beds reduce the quantity of solids requiring treatment in the existing waste lagoons by approximately 80%. The result is significantly improved performance of the lagoons, which in turn should prevent violations of the plant’s effluent SPDES discharge permit.
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