“City Minute”
March 2, 2018
The City of Phillipsburg Water Treatment Plant would like to inform you of a maintenance project that will affect the softening process. On March 5th, The City of Phillipsburg Water Department will be performing routine maintenance at the Water Plant. City of Phillipsburg will begin a project to clean and paint the inside of the Clari-cone which is pictured above. The Clari-cone is the primary component of the water softening process in the Water Plant. This projects bid for $68, 400 was approved by the City Council on February 19th. It was awarded to Torrey Brother’s Construction Inc from Wamego Kansas. This contractor has completed several projects similar to this for the City of Phillipsburg in the past several years.
Why is this maintenance important? Routine maintenance is crucial for the health of our plant as well as the quality of the water we provide to our customers. This project removes and prevents corrosion of the Clari-Cone. This is completed by high pressure washing and blasting. All surfaces will be prepared to receive primer and three coats of Tnemec Epoxy paint. This paint is required to cure for 10 days before it can be submersed in water. This is a part of an ongoing process to extend the life of our water treatment plant.
What can our customers expect during cleaning? Our water softening process will be temporarily shut down starting on March 5, 2018 and will be down for approximately 21 days. Hardness levels during the shutdown may be expected to increase from 18 grains per gallon to as high as 35 grains per gallon. Water users who utilized water softeners should adjust their equipment accordingly. The effects of the shutdown may be evident in the distribution system for several weeks after the maintenance. Normal hardness levels in the system should be reached by Mid-April. This will most likely have an effect on dishwasher, laundry equipment and coffee makers. Customers might see hard water staining or film present on dishes.
The City is sharing this information with our customers to increase awareness. Although this project is an inconvenience to our customers the water provided for our customers is completely safe to consume. The water still meets all applicable water standards. We ask for the community’s patience during this project as it is a crucial step in the preservation of our plant infrastructure. If you have any question or concerns feel free to contact us at the City Office at 785-543-5234.