Algae crisis may lead to much better water
Marion Reservoir's water crisis may have a silver lining.
Both Marion and Hillsboro have what state water quality chief Dave Waldo terms "perfectly adequate," up-to-date treatment plants.
However, both communities — as with nearly every community in the state — need to make substantial additional improvements to meet stringent new federal guidelines that will take effect in 18 months.
Hillsboro recently made some improvements after receiving a grant. Marion applied for a similar grant but did not receive one because, City Administrator Dave Mayfield said, its existing water quality was too high.
The blessing in disguise is that the anabaena experience may allow both communities to rethink their pending improvement projects.
One alternative being investigated is high-voltage ozone treatment. Ozone treatment, though costly, "kills or removes everything," Waldo said, and and has the added benefit of greatly improving the taste of drinking water.
Emporia, which has ozone treatment, recently placed in the top five communities nationwide in a taste-testing contest for water.
"We're looking at the costs," Mayfield said.
Ozone would take care of any and all problems — current or, as was the case with anabaena before it appeared June 5, yet unforeseen.
Mayfield said Marion officials and engineers met Tuesday to discuss a proposed $800,000 upgrade of the city waterworks to include ozone treatment.
The city is waiting for approval from some state agencies before submitting a final loan request to the KDHE Revolving Loan Fund, which is expected to lend money for the waterworks upgrade to the city.
