Fecal Problem Solved, New Water Filters Now Online

After a brief delay, .

The vessels—which use granular activated carbon to soak up MTBE contamination—were brought online a month later than anticipated when test results showed too high a level of coliform bacteria, an indication that the water may have been contaminated with fecal matter, said Assistant Utilities Director West Curry.

Three years ago, two plumes of , prompting city officials to shut down two of its wells.

"As of Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at about 1:30 p.m., the GAC vessels have been placed into service and the Dance Hall well into operation," the utilities department wrote in its most recent report to City Manager Karen Brust. "This is incredible news and brings in a new era of returning the [groundwater recovery plant] to its designed capacity."

The first few sets of vessels were installed at the groundwater recovery plant adjacent to City Hall in May, with the last two sets planted in June. The project was expected to be finished by July 25.

In the past few weeks, the GAC manufacturers disenfected the tanks, Curry said. 

The city took over operation of the groundwater-recovery plant in 2008 with the intention of reducing its reliance on imported water. The discovery of MTBE, compounded by a number of other operational issues at the plant and lower water sales, has quashed that goal.

Between Aug. 1 and Aug. 23, an average of 3.46 million gallons of water were pumped from the plant, equivalent to just over 10.62 acre feet daily. According to Curry, production to date for the fiscal year has been 500.89 acre-feet, headed toward the target of 3,500 acre-feet by next July.

The city's goal is to pump 5.2 million gallons daily.