Water Treatment Plant Sets State Standard for Use of Filtration, Disinfection Technologies
The system includes two 900-lb-per-day hypochlorite generators, two 40-ton brine silos & three 15,000-gal storage tanks.
Murfreesboro, Tenn., is known as one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S., with a population that has grown more than 120% since 1990. As a result, Murfreesboro Water and Sewer Department commissioned the 20-million-gal-per-day (mgd) Stones River Water Treatment Plant, enlarging and upgrading the facility to be the largest membrane filtration plant, largest on-site sodium hypochlorite generation facility and the only lime softening water treatment plant in Tennessee.
The plant, which was first constructed in 1967 and averaged 10.6 mgd prior to expansion, is also one of the only facilities in the world with the capability to utilize granular activated carbon either before or after membrane filtration to enhance microbial reduction, improve taste and remove odors.
According to Alan Cranford, the water and sewer department’s superintendent of water treatment, the plant’s expansion and improvements were precipitated by three factors.
“While we had upgraded the plant several times since its original commissioning, some of the equipment was 40 years old. And with the rapidly growing population in this part of the state, we needed to expand the plant’s capacity,” Cranford said. “Lastly, we wanted to be proactive about preparing for anticipated new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations relating to water treatment. For example, many water utilities are moving from sand filtration to membrane filtration to more effectively control organics and Cryptosporidium at lower cost.”
