The Village of Bellaire owns a 1.0 MGD lime softening Water Treatment Plant and distribution system located along the west bank of the Ohio River. Small, rural communities like Bellaire often face obstacles keeping their utility facilities operational and in compliance with environmental regulations due to challenges like aging infrastructure, lack of revenue, population decline and increasingly stringent EPA requirements. In 2013, the Village constructed a new Ranney Well, but initial testing of the water source indicated increased levels of Tetrachloroethylene (more commonly referred to as PCE) due to a contaminant plume in the aquifer. Under these circumstances, the community had two options: Either drill a new well or add steps to the treatment process to eliminate the PCE.
Due to the capital costs involved in drilling a new Ranney Well and the existing Class III designation of the surface water plant, the Ohio EPA approved the Village to treat the contaminants rather than drill a new well. Currently, the best available technology to treat VOCs is through air stripping. The unique design of this process in Bellaire differs considerably from most conventional air strippers. While most air strippers use a tall tower filled with packed media to separate the VOCs from the water, the air stripper in Bellaire uses trays that force air through the water. A design like this allows the Village to house the air stripper in a designated building where the individual trays distributing the water flow are easily removed for cleaning and maintenance. CTI worked closely with the Ohio EPA, Belomar Regional Council, and RCAP to assist the Village in securing funding including 50% loan forgiveness for the project.
Client
Village of Bellaire, OH
Project Cost
$3.2M
Funding
Ohio EPA (DEFA) WSRLA Loan & 50% Principal Forgiveness
CTI Personnel on project
Dave Kohlmeier, PE
John Gahring, PE
Ken Price, PE
Mitch Myers, PE
CTI Engineers has been providing practical, but innovative, solutions to engineering challenges using nature’s inspiration to enhance and protect the natural world since 1991.
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