Helix Water District Staff Reduces Cost Of Treatment Plant Upgrade

Press release from Helix Water District:

January 6, 2021

When the staff at Helix’s R.M. Levy Water Treatment Plant received estimates as high as $3.5 million to upgrade the plant’s ozone power supply units and generators, they decided to install the upgrade themselves.

Suez Water Technologies provided the engineering and equipment, and staff incorporated new technology and innovative installation practices. They completed a proof of concept pilot project for just under $300,000. A full retrofit is planned in the next few years and will complete the entire project for an estimated cost of $1,100,000 – an approximate 70 percent cost savings. The upgrade will extend the life of the power supply units and generators at least 15 years.

Our water treatment process begins with the removal of dirt and other material suspended in the water, then we use ozone to inactivate or destroy any organisms in the water. We use ozone because it offers important advantages over chlorine:

Ozone destroys or inactivates a wide range of organisms in the water. Ozone needs little contact time with the water to be effective. Ozone produces fewer potentially harmful disinfection byproducts than other disinfectants. Ozone removes most of the smell and taste issues people associate with tap water.

Ozone is naturally unstable at normal atmospheric conditions, which is why we need ozone generators to produce it on-site. The high voltage generators break down oxygen molecules (O2) and form ozone (O3). The ozone molecules are then diffused in a contact chamber and bubble up through our water to destroy any organisms present.

This press release was produced by Helix Water District . The views expressed are the author's own.