Officials will present a design for a new Groundwater Treatment Plant in Evansville on Tuesday. WNIN’s John Gibson has a preview:
The city says the project represents a shift in water supply and treatment that will fundamentally reshape the future of the local water system and save ratepayers up to $200 million over time.
Rather than building an all-new treatment facility sourcing water exclusively from the Ohio River, the Evansville Water and Sewer Utility will blend groundwater with river water to supply its customers.
The plan does include construction of a new groundwater treatment facility and wells, with a comprehensive renovation of the existing Water Treatment Plant on Waterworks Road.
Mayor Terry says the new approach offers multiple benefits including up to 100-million dollars in savings by utilizing and upgrading existing infrastructure and up to another 100-million in long-term capital and operational savings, by avoiding the need for treatment of PFAS “forever chemicals.”
Terry says field tests show the area’s groundwater has “little or no PFAS.”