FAIRFIELD, CA, Aug. 14, 2008 -- The final phase of the Fairfield, CA Waterman Water Treatment Plant project which began construction in March 2006 is now over 70 percent complete, with a target completion date of September 2009. The $67 million dollar project will modernize the plant and expand water treatment capacity from 16 to 30 millions gallons per day. The upgrade is designed to meet the water needs of the city's growing residential and business populations, and provide a state-of-the-art treatment plant for service well into the 21st century.
"Planning for adequate water supplies and water treatment capacity has been a strong focus in Fairfield for decades," says Sean Quinn, Fairfield city manager. "Our businesses and residents truly benefit from the quality and reliability of water provided by the city."
Fairfield's ample water supply is due to water rights obtained in the 1950s to Lake Berryessa, part of the federal Solano Project, and other water sources. The city also gets a significant amount of its water supply from the Sacramento River.
Kiewit Pacific Co., a subsidiary of Kiewit Corporation, is the contractor on the Waterman Water Treatment Plant project. Throughout the construction process, which involved partial and complete demolition and replacement of some plant facilities, the plant continued to operate with minimal shutdowns.
In addition to increased capacity, project features include:
-- Utilization of the Actiflo(R) high-rate sedimentation process to change the way the plant cleans up the water, improving pre-treatment capacity, microbial protection, and water quality and reliability
-- Modernization of chemical handling by constructing a building solely dedicated to storage and pumping of chemicals
-- Rehabilitating existing filters to modern standards
-- Design with future plant expansion in mind.
The Waterman Water Treatment plant is located in northwest Fairfield. It provides water for Fairfield and, on request, to neighboring Suisun City and the "Vallejo Lakes" area. Water from Lake Berryessa reservoir, located 25 miles away, arrives at the plant through the Putah South Canal.
The plant makes the water fit to drink by removing impurities and disinfection. Currently the Waterman plant can treat up to 15 to 16 millions gallons a day. Fairfield has another water treatment plant, the North Bay Regional Water Treatment Plant near Travis Air Force Base, which can provide up to another 27 million gallons daily for the city.
Fairfield promotes water conservation efforts through various programs. Details are available at http://www.solanosaveswater.org/.
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