Indiana American Water, a subsidiary of American Water celebrated a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the completion of a new $8 million disinfection treatment facility at the Borman Park water treatment plant in Gary, Ind.
The project will allow the company to switch from using chlorine gas to a much safer liquid form of chlorine known as sodium hypochlorite.
“This project is a great example of our commitment to incorporating efficiency, sustainability, and safety components into our operations and facilities,” says Indiana American Water President Matt Prine. “Over the last several years, we have already converted nearly half of our water facilities around the state to this much safer form of water disinfection and have plans to invest approximately $30 million to convert the remainder of our water and wastewater treatment facilities over the next five years.”
Planning is underway to convert Indiana American Water’s Ogden Dunes and Lowell water treatment plants in northwest Indiana to sodium hypochlorite disinfection by the end of 2024.
Indiana American Water purchased the adjoining property needed to complete the project in 2020 from the Gary Community School Corporation and demolished the abandoned Jefferson Elementary School building last year. Construction got underway last year on the new treatment facility and was placed online in June 2022.
The project included construction of a new bulk storage facility, including several large storage tanks and feed equipment to allow the existing Borman Park water treatment facility to utilize sodium hypochlorite in the water treatment and to generate the chloramines used in the water distribution system. Chloramine has been used as a water disinfectant for decades in the water distribution system in northwest Indiana. The facility also includes robust chemical containment and storage safety features to mitigate the risks associated with any accidental spills or discharges.
“We appreciate the significant investment Indiana American Water has made in this facility and over the years in their water infrastructure in northwest Indiana,” says Gary’s Deputy Mayor Trent McCain. “This project is a significant health and safety enhancement that also aligns well with our plans to reduce the number of abandoned structures and the associated risks in Gary while providing significant new property tax revenue to the community as well.”
The Gary Borman Park chemical treatment project was designed and constructed through a collaborative partnership with Bowen Engineering and Hazen & Sawyer.
Indiana American Water serves more than 76,000 customers in its northwest Indiana service area or a population of approximately 250,000 people.
