Estimate of water treatment project is $710,000 years ago
It will cost at least $710,000 for upgrades to the City of Marion water treatment facility, city commissioners learned Tuesday at their weekly meeting.
Bucher, Willis, and Ratliff engineering firm provided the estimate.
In 2004, cities and other water suppliers will have to meet more stringent requirements regarding byproducts in drinking water. Chlorinated water sometimes has potential carcinogens which are byproducts of the purification process.
The firm recommends building a chlorine contact basin and ammonia application facility, which would apply chlorine and ammonia after the water has been filtered.
The system "will allow adequate disinfection while reducing the potential for byproduct formation," the report said.
Adding ammonia will help prevent byproducts forming in the distribution system.
Other parts of the project include clarifier covers, to reduce algae growth and improve security; new material and underdrains to improve filtering; automated monitoring equipment; and a waste line that would allow poor quality water to be flushed from the filter instead of entering the distribution system.
To pay for the system, the city is seeking a $400,000 community development block grant. Since this is the maximum amount the grant provides, the city also is seeking other grants and sources, such as a low-interest loan from the Kansas Water Office, said Susan Cooper, economic development director.
To receive the grant, the city must have a majority of residents who qualify as low- to-moderate income families (defined as wages and Social Security only).
Residents are being surveyed by mail. Cooper said a number of surveys have been returned already. The rest are needed by Sept. 20.
