AWWA MTC95002

The Town of Circle, located in eastern Montana, will become the first community in Montana to utilize membrane technology to solve their drinking water problems. Under a mandate to reduce their fluoride level from 5.5 parts per million (ppm) to within the Primary Drinking Water Standards, the town was required to implement a water treatment program. As a secondary goal, Circle also wanted to reduce the sodium level from 480 ppm to below 100 ppm. The Water Treatment Master Plan that was completed in 1993 recommended reverse osmosis to solve the town's water quality problems. The next key step was to identify and secure funding for this $2,272,000 project. The funding package ultimately arranged for this project included a combination of Federal and State funds totaling $1,601,000 in grants and $671,000 in low interest loans. With over 70% of the project being funded with grant money, the town was able to maintain reasonable water rates to cover their new O&M costs and their new debt service. This paper explores the procedures followed in funding the development of the master plan and the pilot study, along with the funding for the design and construction of this project. It also reviews the considerations made in the selection of the treatment process, along with the pilot study conducted to confirm the recommended process. This paper also discusses the need of the membrane industry to look inland from the traditional "Coastal Market" with an eye on funding to help smaller systems meet the current and proposed drinking water standards.

Product Details

Published:

01/01/1995

ISBN(s):

0898678153

Number of Pages:

13

File Size:

1 file , 610 KB