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Conservation
www.FarmProgress.com December 2013 Wallaces Farmer

RRWA has new treatment facility

By KATHLEEN CHESTER

OWA Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds were special guests atthe recent dedication ceremony of Rathbun Regional Water Associations new treatment facility and water system improvements.The two top state officials addressed the crowd attending, which included economic development leaders and city and municipality representatives from the 50 communities in the utilitys service territory cities. The governor spoke about the importance of the new plant to the 80,000 people who rely on RRWA for water. Be proud of what youve accomplished, said Branstad. This expansion makes it possible for people to continue to have a reliable source of clean water. It also helps prepare for any future economic needs in southern Iowa. The achievements of RRWA were also praised by Lt. Gov.Reynolds. This is great for this area of the state and for the communities you serve.

Serving 18 counties
RRWA has grown from serving four counties when its first water plant began operation in 1977 to 18 counties now. It has continued to grow to meet the needs of its customers and become the states largest rural water system. The capacity of thefirst RRWA water treatment facility was 4 million gallons

a day and an expansion in year 2000 increased daily capacity to 8.8 million gallons. While the new plants capacity is 6 million gallons a day, it is designed to allow for expansion to 9 million. John Glenn, CEO of RRWA, says McClure Engineering Co. of Clive was the principal engineer for the $40 million drinking water system improvement project. It includes a new water treatment plant to take raw water from Rathbun Lake, seven miles of distribution mainline, and a 1 milliongallon elevated water storage tank. We are now able to supply more than 14 million gallons of water daily to customers, almost double our capacity before this project, says Glenn. This additional supply of drinking water is essential for RRWA to be able to support continued economic and community development efforts across our service territory. The new treatment plant and system improvements are the result of our board of directors and staff taking steps to meet future drinking water needs in southeast Iowa and northeast Missouri. Marty Braster, RRWA environmental specialist, saysbased on previous growth trends and water usage per meter, RRWA isnow wellprepared to meet the projected demand of peak daily use of14million gallons a day by2035. The completed water systemimprovementsallow RRWA to provide our customers with safe, high-quality drinking water at the most affordable price while meeting future residential, industrial

MEETING NEEDS: The Rathbun Regional Water Association is now able to supply more than 14 million gallons of water daily to its customers. and agricultural demand. Jer Buckingham, plant superintendent, says RRWA customers should see more consistent and higher water quality with the new plant expansion. Tube settlers on the super pulsators help polish the finished water and overall optimization of design to mirror our existing plant and allow us to purify water to higher standards that far exceed state and federal regulation.

Adverse effects of weather will be rare because of the new intake, and our new tower adds capacity and increased pressure to areas from Moravia and Albia and west. The intake structure and pump building have capacity to pull 17.5 million gallons a day of raw water from Rathbun Lake.Each of the twin, 24-inch-diameter water mains carrying raw water from the lake to the treatment facility are capable of transporting 14 million gallons a day. Since 2004, RRWA has been involved in efforts to protect Rathbun Lake, the water source for the utilitys water treatment plants.Soil conservation practices are installedwith farmers and landowners in the Rathbun Lake watershed through the Rathbun Land and Water AlliancesProtect Rathbun Lake Project. RRWA is a member and supports the activities of the alliance. Soil and water conservation practices installed in the watershedhave reduced the annual delivery of sedimentand phosphorustoRathbun Lake by more than 40,000 tons and 172,000pounds, respectively. This investment in southeast Iowa wouldnt have been possible without the financial partnership with USDA Rural Development and the State of Iowas Revolving Fund, as well as reserve funds from Rathbun Regional Water Association, says Glenn.These improvements should satisfy RRWA customers needs for drinkingwaterforthe next20 years. Chester writes for RLWA.

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