The Allen Water Treatment Plant, originally constructed in 1958, has provided the city with water treatment for several decades and has undergone many upgrades over the years. With increasing impacts to our source water, the plant now requires additional improvements. The city is conducting a comprehensive assessment to enhance efficiency, strengthen the treatment process, and improve overall plant safety – optimizations that will also enhance the quality of drinking water delivered to our customers.

Replacement of the Filter Interface Panel

One of our first priorities was making electrical and control system upgrades at the treatment plant. We started with replacement of the Filter Interface Panel (FIP) that monitors and controls the water filtration and backwash processes, which are critical for water treatment operations. This $500,000 project included updated hardware, increased redundancy and modernized filter control through software, graphics and programming upgrades.

New Centrifuge at the Plant’s South Pond

More recently, we have replaced some out of date equipment at the south pond with a newer and more efficient centrifuge. A centrifuge works like a super-fast spinning dryer. As it spins, it separates the water from the sludge (sediment and particles) left over from the treatment process. Once the water is removed, it’s recycled back through treatment to become clean, quality drinking water. The sludge that is removed is then hauled off site to a land fill.

Ozone Trailer

The City has added a mobile ozone trailer at the Allen Water Treatment Plant to help address taste and odor compounds that can move from the south pond to the north pond. These naturally occurring compounds are most common during the warmer months. When in operation, the ozone system breaks down the compounds, and carbon filters remove them before the water continues through treatment to meet drinking water standards.

Ongoing Process Adjustments

The team continues to optimize each step of the water treatment process to improve efficiency and water quality. By carefully matching the right amount of chemicals and treatment at each step, the plant runs more efficiently – no part of the process must work overtime to make up for another. The result is high-quality water with improved taste and odor.

Englewood Utilities is also improving the system that delivers water from the treatment plant across the city to provide high water quality from your tap.

Much of the city’s water distribution system is over 70 years old. As pipes age, issues with taste and odor can become more frequent. City staff are analyzing and changing the way water is moved through this system to minimize issues caused by these pipes. This includes the recent completion of the city’s first fully digitized water system model that can optimize water flow through the distribution system pipes.

Additionally, staff have instituted new programs for flushing, valve exercising, tank mixers, and system replacement. This new replacement program provides ongoing funding to slowly replace aging water infrastructure on a consistent schedule to avoid a significant backlog of deferred maintenance.