Local News

Ohio EPA Director tours Greater Cincinnati Water Works

91.7 WVXU | By Tana Weingartner

Published September 9, 2014 at 3:11 PM EDT

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This is the sand filtration area. Cincinnati was the second city to have such a treatment in 1907.

Ann Thompson / WVXU

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These are the GAC (granular activated carbon) beds. Cincinnati was the first utility in the nation to use GAC and then purify it on site.

Ann Thompson / WVXU

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Eight UV reactors went online in October 2013.

Ann Thompson / WVXU

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This marker stands about waist high on the outside of the "New City Water Works."

Tana Weingartner / WVXU

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The still-functioning facility has been repurposed over the years. The large blue "pipe" stands several stories tall and is used in the water intake process.

Tana Weingartner / WVXU

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Cincinnati's "New City Water Works" Pump Station was built at the turn of the last century. This is where water comes directly from the intake on the Ohio River via a large pipe running under the river.

Tana Weingartner / WVXU

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Interim Superintendent of Water Quality Jeff Swertfeger (L) and Ohio EPA Director Craig Butler view the water intake facility across the Ohio River.

Tana Weingartner / WVXU

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The water intakes were placed on the Kentucky side of the river because before the system of dams was installed that was the deepest part of the river.

Tana Weingartner / WVXU

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It's bigger inside than it looks.

Tana Weingartner / WVXU

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These pools located at the California Golf Course are part of the sediment removal process.

Tana Weingartner / WVXU

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Layered plates in these pools speed up the sediment removal process.

Tana Weingartner / WVXU

Greater Cincinnati Water Works is getting a pat on the back from the head of the Ohio EPA.

During a tour of the Richard Miller Treatment Plant, EPA Director Craig Butler lauded the facility's work and quick response to emergencies like the recent fuel spill on the Ohio River.

"They've thought far enough ahead that they can think of contingencies," said Butler, "and how, if a problem were to arise, that they're able to help supply the residents of Cincinnati and others in their area with water for a significant period of time until either conditions are such that they can bring the pumps back online, or if they had a problem that they could get it fixed. So they wouldn't be in jeopardy of not being able to supply residents with water."

During the tour, Butler took in the newest part of the facility. Last October, Water Works became the first in North America to add UV disinfection to its treatment process.

Fun Fact Alert!

One of two ponds at California Golf Course from which 60,000 lost golf balls were pulled.

Butler's tour included a stop at the California Golf Course on Kellogg Ave where Water Works maintains two settling reservoirs. There he learned the last time they were drained, workers collected 60,000 lost golf balls. The contractor who cleaned the reservoir bought the balls for $.25/piece, cleaned them and sold them off to driving ranges at a higher price.