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Water Filtration Plant

On July 19 2003 The City of Fairmont Water Filtration plant became the largest ultra membrane water treatment plant east of the Mississippi. This "zeeweed” process technology produces high quality treated water by drawing raw water through immersed hollow fiber membrane modules that have nominal and absolute pore size of 0.035 and 0.1 microns respectively. This ensures that particulate matter greater than 1 micron in size, including Giardia Cysts and Cryptosporidium oocycts cannot enter the treated drinking water.

At this time the plant can produce a maximum of 10 million gallons per day using 4 "zeeweed" trains. This capacity can be immediately increased to 12 mgd, and eventually upgraded to 15 mgd. A programmable logic controller automates the operation of the process. The flow of treated water through the system is regulated according to the water level in the clear wells. The level in the clear wells are measured by a pressure sending unit and the flow rate from the permeate pump s are adjusted using a Variable frequency drive units to match the water demand from the distribution system. The treated water flows from each zeeweed process tank membrane compartment through the membrane modules assisted by the VFD controlled permeate pumps that generate a low pressure vacuum that draws the permeate "treated water" through the membranes. If the water level in the clear wells decrease the pump capacities increase. And conversely if the water levels in the clear wells increase the pump capacities decrease.

The City of Fairmont’s new 10.0 MGD water treatment facility at Morris Park along Pleasant Valley Road is a new state of the art facility, which features immersed ultra filtration membrane technology. The new plant was constructed adjacent to the existing treatment plant, of which portions are in excess of 100 years old. Membrane technology provides nearly a 100% barrier against waterborne pathogens, including cryptosporidium, and it produces high quality, aesthetically pleasing, safe drinking water.

The new plant has immediate expansion capabilities to 12.0 MGD, and an ultimate expansion capacity of 15.0 MGD with the installations of additional membrane units. The immersed membrane operates under a low negative pressure (vacuum) system in an open tank design. This facility is one of the largest immersed membrane potable water treatment plants in the United States.

All treatment units for the new plant are contained under roof in a 2-story concrete and split-faced masonry structure with a standing seam metal roof. The new plant is being constructed within the footprint of the existing in-ground clearwell which was recently replaced with a new 1.5 MG pre-cast pre-stressed concrete tank constructed adjacent to the existing 1.5 mg welded steel clearwell tank.

The facility went on-line on July 16, 2003 by Michel, Inc., Bridgeport WV at a cost of $5,929,000. The City pre-purchased the membrane equipment form Zenon Environmental Systems, Inc. at a cost of $4,129,377, which includes a 10-year membrane replacement program. Natgun Corporation constructed the new clearwell at a cost of $887,400. The new plant and clearwell were part of the City’s $24 million water system improvement project, which initially began construction in late 1999. Construction of over 12 miles of 16” and 12” water transmission mains from the new plant to the northeast and southern portions of the system was part of the improvement project.