Roanoke New Water Treatment Plant

The Village of Roanoke’s existing water treatment plant (WTP) is located within the floodplain of the nearby Panther Creek, which runs through town. In 2013, the existing WTP building was inundated with 9” of water above the finished floor from a major storm event and the resultant flooding along Panther Creek. The WTP was originally constructed in 1978 and some of the equipment was also in major need of rehabilitation or replacement.

Farnsworth Group was retained by the Village to prepare a comprehensive planning study to evaluate alternatives for the rehabilitation or replacement of the WTP. Based on the results of this study, the Village authorized Farnsworth Group to design, permit and administer construction of the selected alternative for a new 500 gpm filtration and ion exchange softening water treatment plant. Process and treatment equipment generally include a detention tank with aerator; vertical pressure filtration; ion exchange softening; high service pumps; and chemical feed and storage equipment for fluoride, brine, phosphate and gas chlorine with an air scrubber unit.

Due to high levels of total organic carbons (TOC) in the raw water, the process also includes two (2) anion exchange units to reduce these organics in the finished water. Reducing these organics in the finished water help improve the taste and odor and reduce the amount of chlorine disinfectant required to maintain adequate chlorine residuals in the water system. This reduction in organics and chlorine usage also reduces the formation of chlorine disinfectant by-products which are regulated by the IEPA. Automated controls and SCADA allow for full plant operations with minimal staff, and with the addition of an emergency on-site generator with automatic transfer switch allows for uninterrupted operation.