Now that we know a little about the history of our water and where it comes from, Here is a tour to show you what it goes through before it is safe for you to drink.  A special thanks to the staff at the Northeast Treatment facility and lab for our special tour.

The Treatment facility used for Abilene water is based on a Multiple Barrier system.  The water goes through several barriers and treatments before reaching your faucet to ensure safety.  The following is a diagram that helps show this process.

Testing begins before reaching the treatment facility.  The dirtier the water, the easier it is to disinfect and treat according to our operations tour guide at the plant.  Samples are taken of the lake water and sent over to the lab for testing.  Water is pumped from the water source through the pump station where chlorine dioxide is added. 

It is then pumped through the rapid mix where various chemicals such as lime, polymer, chlorine, ammonia and alum are added.

Once the water has been processed through the clarifying station it is then moved to the final phase before storage.  Once the water is in  the filtering tanks it is actually considered safe to drink by the1972 water act standards.

Treatment Lab

Across the street from the water treatment plant is the lab where most of the water treatment is done.  This is where the  pre-testing and post testing is done for all the water that comes from the treatment plants.