Local Drinking Water Treatment

Where Does Your Tap Water Come From? Your drinking water is processed by a company called Aquarion. They have several treatment plants. Your tap water is treated in Fairfield, CT and travels down a 36” pipe underground along the Post Road. The water source is a local reservoir called Hemlock Reservoir in Fairfield.

Easton Reservoir Water Treatment Plant

Water Reservoirs in Our Area This reservoir connects with the next body of water.

Water Reservoirs in Our Area Your Water Comes from Here k Raw water is treated here to become safe tap water k

How your water is treated: The Gate House controls the amount of water that enters the treatment plant. The Raw Water Pumping Station helps water up hill. The pumps are not used when gravity can do the work. At the Settling Tank a chemical, Alum is added to make impurities clump together. This is called COAGULATION.

Coagulation and Flocculation

Sedimentation Basin

After the impurities settle, clarified water overflows the Sedimentation Tank leaving the clumps of impurities behind. Next the water is Filtered by letting gravity pull the water through ground up coal and sand. In a new tank Chlorine is added to kill all organisms.

Final Additives Before Going to the Storage Tank Adjust PH from 6 to 7 to protect pipes from corrosion. Phosphates are added to prevent dissolving lead & copper pipes. Fluoride is added for dental health. The Storage Tank is filled at night to be ready for peak demand in the morning when you get up to flush, shower, cook, drink, brush teeth and wash dishes.

Water Tests Performed Daily: Turbidity – how clear the water is Ph – Kept neutral ph 7 Chlorine Levels checked at furthest location because it escapes into the air. Enough is added so the organisms do not grow along the pipeline. Many other tests are also performed, 115,000 tests per year automatically or manually.

More Water Facts: The storage tanks are not allowed to be less than half full to provide water for the Fire Fighter. 50 million gallons are processed each day in Fairfield alone. Water use is metered at your homes and read by a truck when it passes by your house.

WATER METERS

Some Homes Use Well Water Larger properties can drill their own well. Properties far from a water treatment plant must have a well. Well water is pumped from the raw water that collects underground. A home with well water will have a pressure tank. Families may purchase water treatment equipment to filter, soften or neutralize.

Water Pressure Tank for homes with a well

Water Softeners Remove Dissolved Minerals that Harm Pipes Home Water Treatment Water Softeners Remove Dissolved Minerals that Harm Pipes Filters remove impurities Multi Purpose Water Treatment Systems Filter, Soften and Neutralize Water

HOMEWORK TONIGHT FIND OUT WHERE YOUR WATER COMES FROM LOOK FOR: WATER METER WATER PRESSURE TANK HOME WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT

REVIEW WATER TREATMENT AT THIS LINK: Links to the the water treatment cycle: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/watertreatmentplant/storage.html Stop at each treatment point to show where the water is along the treatment path. You may click on each treatment point on the image for a little information about that treatment point.

Image Source http://www.thewatertreatments.com/tag/water