CITY OF GALLIPOLIS

JAMES A. NORTHUP WATER TREATMENT PLANT

 PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT

 AVERAGE WATER FLOW:   1.2 MGD

DESIGN FLOW:                 4.0 MGD

 The Gallipolis water works was established in 1895 with the construction of the former water plant on Mill Creek Road.  This plant was renovated several times over the years and the water supply shifted from the Ohio River to wells.  At the time of the old plants retirement from service, its capacity was 2.2 Million gallons per day (MGD), pumping from three wells. 

 The new James A. Northup Water Treatment Plant has a gross capacity of 4.0 million gallons (MGD) per day.  Five wells are now provided for use and reserve.  The new plant started operation in November 1981. 

 TREATMENT PROCESS:

 AERATION:  Carbon dioxide is removed from the incoming well water by cascading it down through enclosed splash tray aeration to softening, to reduce the amount of lime required by the water softening process.

 SOFTENING:  The new plant softens water in two deep concrete basins with a lime process, in which lime is added to the well water to chemically precipitate and settle out calcium, magnesium, iron, and magnesium.  Alum is also added to the softening basins to facilitate the treatment, and the chemical sludge resulting from the softening process, which is withdrawn periodically from the bottom of the softening basins. 

 FILTRATION:  The water is filtered by passing it through deep anthracite/sand filter beds in order to remove nearly all the remaining turbidity, or cloudiness, from the softening process.

 DISINFECTION AND FLUORIDATION:  When leaving the filters the water disinfected by addition of chlorine solution in small quantities, and fluoridated by the addition of fluoride.

 STORAGE AND PUMPING:  The finished, fully treated, water is stored in a clear well of 0.9 million gallons gross capacity, and then pumped to the customers by four pumps of 1.0, 2.0, 2.0, and 3.0 million gallons (MGD) per day respective capacities. 

 The Division of Water Treatment treats water to provide safe and good-tasting drinking water for City water customers.