CITY OF CHIPPEWA FALLS

WATER TREATMENT PLANT

Pictures

            The City of Chippewa Falls has long been known for its pure water.  When complaints of discolored water and dirty laundry began to surface with more frequency in mid-2000’s, action had to be taken.  The City Water Utility began by “target” flushing on the south side and west hill.  This delayed the problem on a temporary basis but cost water rate payers money for the flushing process which employed large amounts of utility staff time and, in effect, wasted large amounts of water.  A permanent solution was necessary.

            In  2008, the City engaged the local multi-disciplined engineering firm of Short, Elliott & Hendrickson (S.E.H.), who set up a pilot plant at the West Well Field.  Water samples from the West Well Field were taken and analysis indicated a higher than normal content of iron and manganese.  A pilot plant report was submitted and reviewed in August of 2008.

            After a Solicitation of Qualifications process,  S.E.H. was chosen to design a new Water Treatment Plant for the City’s three West Well Field wells. 

            The Water Treatment Plant design that was chosen utilizes a pressure filter with a “Green Sand” filter media. A backwash process cleans the filter. The completed project  design consisted of multiple parts including the Water Treatment Plant, a  watermains, a sanitary sewer line extension, a lift station and a force main to transport the filter backwash  to the City’s Waste Water Treatment Plant.  It included the force main crossing the Chippewa River in an area of the endangered species Purple Wartyback Mussel and the Wood Turtle.  Complicating the project was the fact that while the project was submitted for review in April, the City learned of the endangered species area in October.  Working with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the City was able to minimize disruption to these endangered species. Also adding to the archaeological investigation was a potential Indian Burial Mound in the project area. The Water Plant design used a green concept of employing “stored” electric heat which is generated during off peak hours at a more efficient rate.

            S.E.H. submitted this project on behalf of the city to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and received a principal forgiveness grant of about $1,463,999.  Additional funding sources for the project included an approximate $1,463,999 low interest loan and a $615,812 Environmental Protection Agency Grant.  The principal forgiveness grant and loan funding were received from the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program(in conjunction with ARRA) and administered locally through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  The Water Plant Contract was awarded to Ghidorzi Construction Companies of Wausau, WI while the force main, interceptor and lift station contract was awarded to Pember Companies of Menomonie WI.

            The original project construction schedule was delayed while the City worked through the endangered species concerns but as of April 15, 2010 was back on track for an August 2010 completion. 

            The project continues to progress and pictures of the construction process are displayed on this web site.  We look forward to the completion of the Water Treatment Plant later this year and are excited to continue to supply the city of Chippewa Falls with the purest water in the world.