Published: June 24, 2009 11:02 am      

Water treatment plant pumping

Tuttle’s new ionic exchange water plant went online on Wednesday, June 17, the first public system of it’s kind in the state.

“The water plant is up and running,” said Tuttle City Manager Tim Young. “The water tastes much better and the water pressure is increasing across the community.”

“So far, so good,” said Tuttle Water Superintendent Steven McVicker. “Since we started the plant, we’ve treated more than 3.3 million gallons of water.”

McVicker said the amount of treated water is high because two water storage towers and a raw water tower had to be filled.

“The amount will go down to between 600,000 gallons and 700,000 gallons a day when we’re not building up and storing water, but are treating what we use,” said McVicker.

Because of the increasing amount of nitrates in well water over several decades, the Tuttle Water Department previously issued warnings for pregnant women and for children under the age of six months to avoid drinking city water.

Today, the water is clean and safe for all residents to drink.

“Chlorine amounts are more consistent, nitrates are down and sulfates, which give the water a bad taste, have been removed and the pH has been adjusted from being acidic to a more balanced level,” said McVicker. “With the increasing pressure, some may have some sediment in their water, but it was just what was left in the pipes. Now, all sand and sediment stops here at the water plant.”

Young said all the changes in the new system contribute to much better quality of water and with the increased water pressure it will help the fire department protect the citizens.

“The fire department will perform float tests on fire hydrants in about two weeks to see if there is enough water pressure,” said Young.

The new system is equipped to treat as much as 1,200 gallons per minute, but averages 750 to 800 gallons per minute. With the entire system being computerized, including all of the wells, everything is more consistent, McVicker said.

“Before, we had to run in circles to keep things running ,” McVicker said.

“We’ve left the 1940s and are now in the 21st century,” Young said.

Long dependent on Newcastle water, Tuttle is now self reliant, and, while Newcastle is presently rationing water, Tuttle is not currently rationing and is looking into ways to ensure ample water resources for the future.

The $4 million water project, which includes new 12-inch pipes running east along Hwy 37 from downtown Tuttle to County Line Road, Newcastle, will be paid for over 20 years.