Saugahatchee Filter Plant
The System has as its original source of supply the Saugahatchee Reservoir (an impoundment of Saugahatchee Creek), and raw water withdrawn from the reservoir is processed at the Saugahatchee Filter Plant for delivery into the distribution system. The Saugahatchee Filter Plant has a nominal delivery capacity of 6.0 million gallons per day (MGD), and the net pumpage for the fiscal year ending September 30,1998, was 1,515,289,000 gallons. The Saugahatchee Filter Plant, originally constructed as a nominal 3.0 MGD facility in 1945, was expanded to a 6.0 MGD facility in 1968. In 1992, the facility was upgraded to meet new EPA regulations. The upgrading included a new sludge holding basin, new sludge handling process and new filter media. The plant also underwent a facelift that included new roofing, new paint and new landscaping. Raw water is treated by coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection.
Water processed at the Saugahatchee Filter Plant is delivered into the distribution system through two major transmission mains, and the distribution system is comprised of approximately 150 miles of mains ranging in diameter from 2 to 30 inches. Storage is provided by seven tanks having a total capacity of 7,930,000 gallons.
Robert A. Betts Filter Plant
As noted above under "SUMMARY OF THE WATER SUPPLY AGREEMENT," the Series 1983 Bonds were issued in part to finance the acquisition and construction of a new water filtration and transmission system ("the New Source Facility") which includes three major components: (1) a raw water intake facility which is comprised of a submerged raw water intake structure located on the lower Halawakee Creek Arm of Lake Harding (an impoundment of the Chattahoochee River), a subaqueous raw water intake pipeline and a raw water pumping station on the shore approximately 125 feet from the raw water intake; (2) a water filtration plant having an initial nominal capacity of 4.0 MGD and a high rate filter nominal capacity of 8.0 MGD located approximately 2,000 feet from the raw water pumping station; and (3) a booster pumping station, water storage reservoir with a capacity of 2,000,000 gallons and a water transmission main approximately 15.2 miles in length connecting the filtration plant and booster pumping station to the Board's existing water distribution system.
The raw water intake is designed to accommodate a raw water withdrawal of approximately 18.0 MGD. The filtration plant can be readily expanded in 2.0 MGD units as demand for potable water increases. Raw water is treated at the plant by coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection. The water transmission main is designed to deliver and distribute a maximum of approximately 18.0 MGD to the distribution system as efficiently as possible.
The Board depends solely upon surface water supplies for its water. No wells or well fields are maintained by the Board.
Customers
During the last decade the average number of customers of the System has grown by 29.0 percent from 7,585 in February of 1986 to 9947 in January of 2001.
Operations and Maintenance
Operating personnel of the Board conduct a thorough water quality testing program. Water quality is tested at both filtration facilities on an hourly basis, and the Board operates a laboratory certified by the State of Alabama Department of Environmental Management for more extensive testing. Water pumped from both filtration facilities into the distribution system is monitored in accordance with the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The distribution system is operated using a state-of-the-art radio based computerized supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA).
Maintenance of Board equipment such as pumps, excavating equipment, meters and vehicles is performed by Board personnel, except where the size of the undertaking requires the assistance of outside contractors. Operating personnel of the Board conduct a comprehensive preventive maintenance program to minimize maintenance expenses. Aspects of the program include water leak detection, fire hydrant testing and valve testing, pumping station testing, cross connection protection testing and other related programs to maintain the System's operating condition.
The Board conducts and encourages participation in training programs by its employees, and it also emphasizes participation by its managerial personnel in professional associations dedicated to developing and improving utility management practices.
