At the treatment plant, potassium permanganate, activated carbon, or chlorine dioxide can be added to the incomming water as needed for both disinfection and for taste and odor control. This process allows time for the water to react with taste and odor control chemicals which were added earlier. Additional softening and clarification chemicals can be added at this stage if needed. Clarified and softened water leaves the secondary basins and flows to a 40,000 gallon chamber where carbon dioxide is added to stabilize the water. When leaving this stabilization basin, a polyphosphate is added to provide additional water stability.
Water continues through the plant to a bank of ten rapid sand filters.
Here, water is filtered through a combination of anthracite coal, sand, and a mixture of support gravel. The filters remove any remaining suspended matter present in the water. Water leaving the sand filters is chlorinated, flouridated, and a second polyphosphate is added to enhance water stability in the distribution system. The water then flows into a 4.8 million gallon storage well. PLC's are also used to control and monitor the reservoir systems.