Gary cuts ribbon on safer water disinfection plant
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Officials from Gary and Greenwood-based Indiana American Water Co. have cut the ribbon on an $8 million disinfection facility at its Borman Park water treatment plant. The project allowed the company to switch away from chlorine gas to a safer, liquid form to disinfect water.
Indiana American Water, a subsidiary of American Water Company (NYSE: AWK), purchased the adjoining former school property from the Gary Community School Corp. to complete the project.
Following demolition of an abandoned school, construction got underway last year.
“Over the last several years, we have already converted nearly half of our water facilities around the state to this much safer form of water disinfection and have plans to invest approximately $30 million to convert the remainder of our water and wastewater treatment facilities over the next five years,” said Indiana American Water President Matt Prine.
The project included construction of several large storage tanks and feed equipment to allow the treatment facility to utilize sodium hypochlorite in the water instead of liquid chlorine.
The facility also has containment infrastructure in the event of an accidental spill.
Indiana American Water says planning is underway to convert the disinfection process as its Ogden Dunes and Lowell water treatment plants by the end of 2024.