Water plant running soon

By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

January 15, 2008

PAWTUCKET -- With the replacement of some problematic pumps, the Pawtucket Water Supply Board Board’s new water treatment plant should be up and running by the end of this month or shortly thereafter, according to a PWSB official.

James DeCelles, chief engineer, said that a stumbling block came up last summer when it was discovered that three intake pumps that pull raw water from Happy Hollow Pond were performing too noisily. Earth Tech, the company building the plant, began a series of discussions with the Georgia-based manufacturer, Patterson Pump Co., to have the situation rectified.

The pump manufacturer contended that the noise was harmless, but PSWB officials were concerned that a problem called cavitation could occur, eventually causing the pumps to malfunction.

Earth Tech and Patterson Pump officials spent several months locked in a disagreement about whether or not the excessive noise was a design flaw. However, DeCelles said the company finally agreed to remove one of the pumps and ship it back to Georgia for modifications.

The pump was returned and re-installed with a larger impeller and it has been readjusted to a slower speed. Earth Tech has tested the pump and said it looks as though the modifications will solve the problem, DeCelles said.

Decelles said Earth Tech has completed the testing that will determine whether the new treatment facility will be accepted as meeting safe drinking water standards. The results are part of a report that will go to the PWSB and the state Department of Health. Both bodies have 30 days to review and comment on the data.

If the test report is accepted, the facility should be set to become fully operational by the end of this month or the beginning of next month, DeCelles said.

The re-installation of the pipes at the pumping station will take longer, most likely not before the beginning of May, said DeCelles. However, he said that as it only takes one pump to supply water to the treatment plant, this part of the project should not delay the opening date.

The $46.1 million treatment plant is being constructed behind the PWSB building on Branch Street. It will replace an antiquated 70-year-old plant on Mill Street in Cumberland.

The project was slated for completion by March 2006, but Earth Tech encountered several problems that caused delays. In addition to the malfunctioning pumps, tainted soil was discovered at the construction site, and the company experienced a shortage of sheet metal.

The new facility will serve PWSB customers in Pawtucket, Central Falls and the Valley Falls section of Cumberland.