The City of Morenci is making steady progress on the upgrades to our water treatment system. As previously detailed, the Water Treatment Plant has been bypassing iron removal filtration to facilitate the replacement of filter media in the system’s four filtration tanks. This project, supported by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and funded through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), aims to reduce iron levels in our water to nearly zero.
The sandblasting of the interior of all four iron filtration tanks, which removed decades of buildup, has been completed. During this process, numerous holes were discovered in the bottoms of all four tanks, necessitating repairs. These repairs, along with those to the backflush risers, were completed on August 23. The interiors have since been coated with materials certified by NSF/ANSI 61/600, approved by EGLE, and compliant with AWWA Standards. The coating is currently undergoing a 7-day curing period.
The installation of new filter media in all four filtration tanks is scheduled for the week of September 3-6. Following this, the backflushing of the filter media will take place, after which water samples will be collected and submitted to EGLE for testing. All of these activities are conducted "offline," ensuring that no water is introduced into the system until it has been tested and approved by EGLE.
Once EGLE approves the sampling data, all four iron removal filters will be placed "online" and operational. We anticipate this will occur during the week of September 16-20. Residents should begin to notice a gradual improvement in water clarity as the treated water replaces the existing supply.
The City of Morenci remains committed to ensuring the safety and quality of our water. Daily testing continues, with results reported in real-time to EGLE. While the water's appearance may temporarily vary due to iron content, it remains safe for consumption.
For more information or questions, please contact the City of Morenci at (517) 458-6828.