Water Treatment
West Salem, Wisconsin

The village of West Salem retained Foth to select a new water supply well location and to design and construct the new well and wellhouse.

Water Treatment System

Foth designed a new well with a capacity of 600 gpm. Iron concentrations of 1.4 mg/l and manganese concentrations of 0.3 mg/l resulted in the need to treat the well water using a pressure aerationfiltration treatment system. To establish the effectiveness of filtration for removing iron and manganese, a pilot test was conducted in September 1997.

Variables looked at during the pilot test included the rates of chemical addition for chlorine and potassium permanganate, the detention time following aeration and an application rate of 2 to 3 gpm/square foot to the filters. Other important parameters monitored during the pilot study were pH, hydrogen sulfide, iron bacteria and water temperature.

Pilot test results recommended pressure aeration, prechlorination followed by potassium permanganate injection and filtration at 3 gpm/square foot through manganese green sand and anthracite filter media. Filter runs of 40 hours were predicted. The system was designed with a filter area of 250 square feet for a peak flow rate of 750 gpm.

Project Specifics:

• Water treatment design capacity of 600 gpm
• Total project construction cost was $420,000 which included a new building

Benefits:

• Treated water quality satisfying drinking water standards
• Cost effective potable water system