| After the water is pumped from the ground, we add a
blended phosphate to control interior corrosion of the pipes and it also helps to
sequester iron and manganese which is in the groundwater. We add chlorine to the water as
a disinfectant to prevent the spread of water born disease. Disinfection destroys
pathogenic (disease causing) organisms in water. Fluoride is found naturally in
water and we add it to reduce tooth decay. The following are average residuals for the
chemicals we add to the water:
- chlorine .2 to .07 ppm (part per million)
- blended phosphate 1 ppm
- fluoride 1.1 ppm
We do routine monitoring for microbiological contaminants by
collecting nine samples every week in various parts of the distribution system. In
addition, we monitor the system for chlorine by taking eleven samples per week.
Blended phosphate is monitored twice per week and fluoride is monitored once per day.
After the water is pumped from the ground, if it is not used up
prior to the elevated tank, it is stored until it is needed. We have two storage
facilities; one an elevated tank is located in the 1700 block of Water Street, the
other is a ground level reservoir located in the 100 block of Georgia Street North. The
elevated tank holds 1,000,000 gallons of water and the ground level reservoir is
capable of holding 2,250,000 gallons of water. Our average day pumpage for
1997 was 6.7 million gallons per day. |
