Water Treatment Division

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The Treatment Process

When water first reaches the plant chlorine is added, then ammonia, to form chloramines for disinfection. Next, water enters aerator towers which break the water up and provide oxygen. This aeration process is an important first step in the removal of taste and odors associated with algae; it's also the first step in removing iron and manganese, which can cause staining of plumbing fixtures. Sometimes it's necessary to add an oxidizing agent to provide additional taste and odor removal when aeration along isn't sufficient.

Next is the coagulation & flocculation process, this is the mixing of a coagulant at varying speeds which leads to the destabilization of the dirt particles. The water then enters the sedimentation basins where the dirt particles form larger and heavier particles that begin to settle to the bottom of the basins and are removed by traveling rakes. The process takes about three hours to complete and in addition to impurity removal, most iron and manganese removal is accomplished during this step. The pH is then adjusted to reduce its corrosive tendencies and the water continues on to the filters. Here any fine particulates that didn't settle out in the sedimentation process are removed by dual media filters, made up of several layers of gravel, a layer of sand and anthracite. After the filtration process is completed the water is then pumped into the storage facilities and throughout the distribution system. The final step is the addition of a corrosion inhibitor to further protect the pipes.

During the treatment process the water is constantly monitored and tested during each step to ensure it will meet all state and federal guidelines.

It's also important to know the quality of our source water. Therefore the City of Monroe and the University of Louisiana @ Monroe, (ULM) have developed a source water monitoring program that includes the testing of many different water quality contaminants including lead, copper, and arsenic to name a few. The tests are done at different times and at many different locations throughout the year providing us with a record of water quality.