$12 Million Water Treatment Plant Upgrades Move Power Lines Underground
Illinois American Water’s Interurban (Metro East) District, which serves the communities of East St. Louis, Granite City, Belleville and surrounding areas, has completed a significant upgrade at its East. St. Louis Water Treatment Plant. The approximately $12 million investment helps to enhance reliability and operational efficiencies, while incorporating environmental technology.
The project, which kicked off in 2015, included a significant electrical upgrade and water treatment system improvement. According to Karen Cooper, Illinois American Water’s senior manager of field operations and production, a new 2.5 megawatt generator and power distribution switchgear were installed in news buildings able to withstand 150 mph winds. Upgrades were also made to critical electrical and SCADA monitoring systems to ensure continued high-quality and reliable water service. Overhead electrical lines distributing power to remote parts of the plant were replaced with underground lines to ensure safety and reliability, the water treatment system was upgraded, and a grit removal system was installed. Cooper stated the grit removal technology will reduce chemical usage and maintenance required to treat water from the Mississippi River.
“There have been many expansions and renovations in the last century to the East St. Louis plant to ensure reliable, safe water service to Metro East customers,” Cooper said. “We are proud of our history and continued commitment to invest prudently and proactively. This recent upgrade improves not only our operational efficiencies but also our environmental footprint.”
Illinois American Water contracted with Sachs Electric to complete the project.
The company’s East St. Louis Water Treatment Plant is an award-winning member of the Partnership for Safe Water. This national recognition is given to fewer than 150 water treatment plants in the U.S. The Partnership is a national voluntary initiative developed by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other water organizations to recognize water suppliers that consistently achieve water treatment standards that go above and beyond EPA regulatory requirements. As a member of the program, water utilities pledge to continually improve their treatment operations and undergo a rigorous review that includes a four-phase self-assessment and peer-review process.
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