Gallatin’s new water treatment plant opened in 2018. The construction was done by David E Ross Construction Company, which bid $4,987,000 to build the new plant. The last part of the project, according to Gallatin City Administrator Tony Stonecypher, involved inside work to install electricity, plumbing and control panels.
Gallatin began testing its new water treatment plant in 2018. The facility is located on Rocky Road, on the east side of Dockery Park.
How is raw water made clean and safe to drink at the treatment plant?
The Water Treatment Process: The Gallatin Water Treatment Plant (WTP) is a lime-softening process, which means hardness in the water is removed from the water through the addition of lime. Lime softening is a common treatment for groundwater. Gallatin’s water source is groundwater from three wells located approximately three miles east of Gallatin along Highway 6. Once the groundwater is pumped to the treatment plant, complete lime softening WTP stages include aeration, coagulation /flocculation/sedimentation, recarbonation, filtration, and disinfection. The following provides a brief description of each stage:
Aeration: The incoming raw water is cascaded through an aerator to strip dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2). Stripping the CO2 lowers the amount of lime required later in the treatment process.
Coagulation/Flocculation/Sedimentation: Following aeration, the water is routed to a solids contact clarifier for hardness removal. Lime and the coagulant aluminum sulfate is added and the water is gently mixed, aggregating the small precipitated particles together to form larger precipitates called flocs (flocculation). Once large enough, the flocs settle by gravity to the bottom of the clarifier and are removed (sedimentation).
Recarbonation: After adding lime, treated water will generally have a pH greater than 10. It is necessary to lower the pH to stabilize the water and prevent deposition of carbonate scale on distribution piping. Recarbonation is achieved through the addition of CO2, a common process used to reduce pH.
Filtration: Following recarbonation, filtration removes any unsettled lime floc and other partials that may be present in the treated water.
Disinfection: Chlorine is added to the water to eliminate any remaining pathogens.
Clear Well: Once treated, the water is routed to a clear well onsite, which is a large concrete storage tank. Water in the clear well is pumped to the existing 250,000 gallon water tower, located on the western edge of town, and then routed through the existing approximate 45 miles of distribution main to the City’s end users.
An open house was hosted by city officials in May, 2018. Engineers from Snyder & Associates, representatives from Green Hills Regional Planning Commission (GHRPC), and field representatives for Congressman Sam Graves and U. S. Senator Claire McCaskill were at the water plant on May 10 for a presentation of Certificates of Recognition.
An aerial view of the City of Gallatin electrical plant and water treatment facilities (circa 1950), submitted by Jim Long.
Gallatin municipal water wells were evident in the Grand River valley in 1962.
In 2008 the City of Gallatin chose to replace the municipal water tower with a new tower located west of the athletic field at Gallatin R-5 High School. Health concerns due to lead paint on the water tower built in 1924 promted the upgrade. The 1924 tower, located just south of the business square, was dismantled and removed.
Roger Loxterman [1948-2007] was an integral part of water and waste water systems for many years in Gallatin, MO. He performed many and various roles as an employee for the City of Gallatin. A 1966 graduate of Gallatin High School, Roger began his career for the City of Gallatin in 1972 and eventually was promoted to the Superintendent of Utilities. He also served as a volunteer in the Gallatin Fire Department for 27 years. He is shown adjusting chemicals for properly treating Gallatin’s drinking water.
