AWWA SOURCES59164

Drought conditions across the State of Texas during the last several years has forced many utility systems to evaluate poorer quality waters for potential sources for water supply. The City of Wichita Falls, Texas is a portion of an integrated Water Supply Plan, which is designed to maximize its use of available water supply, has begun the process of constructing a microfiltration/reverse osmosis water treatment plant. The City has ownership and municipal water rights to Lake Kemp, which has a high level of total dissolved solids, chlorides and sulfides in the water. This water is not treatable with conventional water treatment methods to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) secondary water quality standards. The City has had these water rights for several years but has only used them during emergency drought conditions. As a portion of the City's water supply plan, a pilot-testing program was performed on Lake Kemp water. The results of the piloting tests have led to the preparation of plans and specifications for the construction of a 10 mgd microfiltration/reverse osmosis treatment plant in the City of Wichita Falls. Construction of this water treatment plant is expected to begin in June 2003. The major focus of this paper is on the presentation of the process in arriving at the decision to use membrane technology and a brief update on the status of the construction project. The paper also focuses on the costs associated with this proposed construction. Includes table.