Cincinnati Water Works announces UV disinfection treatment facility

The City of Cincinnati and Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) began operations this month of a $30 million state-of-the-art ultraviolet (UV) disinfection treatment facility. GCWW is now the largest water utility in North America to use UV disinfection following sand filtration and granular activated carbon (GAC) absorption.
 
The 19,600-square-foot UV facility located at GCWW’s Richard Miller Treatment Plant on Kellogg Avenue will further enhance water quality and protect against microorganisms such as cryptosporidium.
 
"Cincinnati’s renowned water is about to get even cleaner," says Cincinnati Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls. "Investing in water technology not only produces safe drinking water, it can yield multiple benefits including cleaner air and a healthier community."
 
"This is a very important day in the City of Cincinnati," says Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr. "This UV disinfection treatment facility is greatly needed to address the changing conditions of the Ohio River and maintain compliance with the next round of US EPA Safe Drinking Water Regulations. The addition of UV disinfection will provide a state-of-the-art multi-barrier treatment process to enhance our water quality and further protect the public’s health."
 
GCWW began working with national and international scientists and water technology experts in the early 2000s to determine the best available technology to enhance the utility’s water treatment system.
 
"Our mission is to provide customers within our regional communities a plentiful supply of the highest quality water and excellent services," says Tony Parrott, Joint Utility Director for GCWW and the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati. "We are excited to launch this new innovative treatment so that we can continue to provide the highest quality water possible."

By Michael Sarason