Star-Journbal Editor
Even though he'd received a personal invitation, the president of the United States of America was a no-show at the Hillsboro water treatment plant open house.
But, that's OK. Because the President and White House resident couldn't have the same appreciation for the $3.5 million project as residents of the farm house next door.
"Back when I was in high school and grade school, the water was fishy tasting, and you could cut it with a knife," said Melvin Schmidt, who along with his wife, Darlene, were among about 55 people who showed up this past Thursday.
Mayor Delores Dalke cut the ribbon, and invited guests to tour the remodeled facility and drink their fill of freshly filtered, high-quality Hillsboro H2O.
"It's very nice and we're excited about it," Dalke said, of the new facility, which, with upgrades complete, can pump 3 million gallons a day.
"We're very happy that people came to join us, to see what our new plant looks like and to find out what the new water tastes like."
Among those on hand for the taste test were representatives of USDA Rural Development, which assisted the city by providing approximately $1.5 million in grants and the remainder of the monies at low-interest loans, which allowed the city to take on the ambitious project.
Other out-of-town guests included representatives from the contractor, Utility Contractors of Wichita, and the engineers, EBH and Associates of Pratt.
As the festivities began, Dalke took the portable public address system microphone and, under the shade of a white canopy set up for the event, thanked the key players, each and every one.
In addition to a bronze plaque at the entrance of the facility, which looks like new with fresh paint on the walls, ceilings, piping and a glossy epoxy covering the concrete floor, the city published a four-page full- color brochure explaining the improvement process.
It reads, "The Hillsboro Water Treatment Plant is an automatic treatment facility that has the capability of operating 24 hours a day with or without continuous operator attention.
"Advanced technology allows continuous monitoring of all aspects of the treatment process from the pumping station at the Marion Reservoir to the finished water in the elevated towers. As the raw water is pumped from the reservoir, it is treated with an oxidizer to help combat taste and odors.
"When the water enters the plant at the flash mixer, chemicals are added to aid in coagulation and flocculation. The water then travels to the upflow clarifiers where the solids settle out at the bottom, and the clear water rises to the top and then travels to the filters inside the building.
"Two new filters were built during the upgrades process. They contain granular activated carbon to further assist in combating taste and odors and help comply with new EPA regulations. The three existing filters contain anthracite and sand and all five filters are controlled by new touch screen filter controllers.
"As the water leaves the filters, it is continuously monitored for cleanliness by online turbidimeters before it enters the chlorine contact chamber to be disinfected. The new chlorine contact chamber allows for more efficient disinfection while adding less chlorine and complying with new EPA regulations regarding trihalomethanes. After the chlorine contact chamber the water enters one of two underground storage facilities to be pumped to the water towers in both Hillsboro and Peabody."
One person who appreciates the significance of the upgrades is plumbing contractor and city council member Matt Hiebert.
"The wonderful thing about this is we looked far enough into the future that we are ready for the next possible set of regulations coming down the pike," Hiebert said.
"Some communities that are doing things like this are just doing the quick fix now, and they're going to have to turn around and tell their public, 'Hey, we have to start another project.'
"So we're sitting pretty good here on our water plant for the foreseeable future."
Another person who appreciates all of the inner workings of the plant, plant manager Morgan Marler, spent the open house giving high-tech tours of her facility and avoiding the spotlight. She asked Dalke for permission not to speak at the event.
"She's camera shy, but extremely intelligent," Dalke said. "We are so fortunate to have her. She understands what it takes to make the water be the way it needs to be. She understands all of the chemical reactions and things that happen along the way. Without her, we would not be here today."
Of particular importance, Dalke said, was Marler's ability to manage the facility and assure a continuous flow of water to the city throughout the chaotic construction process.
"She just did a super job all the way through," Dalke said.
Components of the 2006 upgrades include: new water lines installed on Date Street and Willow Road; rehabilitation of a 500,000- gallon tower, including a new paint job and logo; fencing around perimeter of water plant campus; new automatic generator that will run entire facility, plus the two pumphouses on site; new backwash pumps installed on Hillsboro's clearwell; new telemetry and electric wiring throughout plant; new SCADA control system and a laptop SCADA control system that will allow operators to operate the plant from remote locations; two additional filters containing granular activated carbon and two new filter consoles to operate all filters; bulk carbon feed system; new chemical feed pumps and chlorination system; new chlorine contact basin that allows for more efficient disinfection process; additional upflow clarifier and domes, piping, walkways, and appurtenances; piping and valves to and from the Rural Water District #4 line that will allow for a secondary source of water in case of emergency; new pumps at the reservoir; fresh paint on walls, ceilings, roof, piping. New chemical resistant epoxy flooring throughout the entire facility; variable speed drives installed on backwash pumps and raw water pumps.
