Wapakoneta Water Treatment Plant

The original water works system of the City of Wapakoneta was constructed in 1895. It consisted of a brick-made “clearwell” which was supplied by spring fed wells and a high service pump which pumped the water to the distribution system and the standpipe. The total cost of the new water works system was $56,471.

In 1933, Ion-Exchange Softeners were added to the system. The citizens of Wapakoneta were then able to enjoy “softened water”. The raw water was pumped from the clearwell through the softeners and directly into the distribution system.

Major improvements to the plant were made in 1957. The Water Treatment Plant now consisted of a natural draft aerator, a settling basin, three rapid sand filters, a 400,000 gallon clearwell reservoir, four zeolite water softeners, two salt storage tanks, four high service pumps, a backwash pump and chlorination. The nominal capacity of the treatment plant at that time was 2 million gallons a day.

1985 brought more improvements to the Water Treatment Plant. Improvements included a new induced updraft aerator, four new fully automated resin bed softeners, new chlorination facilities, new filtration instruments and brine & filter backwash disposal facilities. The capacity of the Water Plant was increased to 2.7 million gallons per day. The project was locally funded and construction costs totaled $1,237,000. The General Contractor was Peterson Construction Company and the Consulting Engineers were Finkbeiner, Pettis & Strout Limited.

From 1895 to the present, the City’s raw water supply has come from a series of drilled and gravel wells. At the present time, the City has seven operable wells from which they draw water. The principal source of supply is the underlying carbonate aquifer. The raw water wells are located in tow different well fields. Wells 1, 2, 3 and 7 are located in a well field about 1 ½ miles west of the treatment plant site along the Auglaize River and Wells 4, 5 and 6 are in a well field adjacent to the Water Treatment Plant.

The existing distribution system consists of two elevated storage and a historical standpipe. A 500,000 gallon tank, built in 1957, is located on Maple Street between E. Benton Street and Park Street and a 750,000 gallon tank, built in 1989, is located on Defiance Street at Redskin Trail (north side of town). The historical standpipe located on N. Blackhoof Street is approximately 273,000 gallons. The standpipe was part of the original water works system of 1895. It turned 100 years old in December 1995 and is a landmark in Wapakoneta.

The transmission of water through the distribution system is accomplished by over 57 miles of water mains ranging from 2-inch to 16-inches in diameter, with the pipe material consisting of Cast Iron, PVC, and Transite waterline.

New 1.5 MGD water tower
on Commerce Drive

Raw water is pumped from the wells to the induced updraft aerator where oxidation of the iron and manganese takes place. After aeration, the water enters a settling basin prior to flowing through rapid sand filters. Although some oxidized iron and manganese will precipitate in the settling basin, the major portion is removed during filtration. After being filtered, the water is then disinfected with chlorine gas as it enters the clear water reservoir from which high service pumps take suction and convey the clear water through ion-exchange softening units. During the ion-exchange process, the brine solution, which contains sodium (salt) is introduced during the regeneration cycle. Completion of the regeneration leaves the sodium on the softener resin. Next, hard water is introduced during the softening cycle. The hardness, caused by the calcium and magnesium ions in the water, are “exchanged” for the sodium ions, thus producing soft water at zero (0) hardness. The zero (0) soft water is then blended with a portion of hard water (approx. 25% by-pass) to produce an acceptable soft water (Wapak’s finished water hardness avg. is 120-140 ppm). From there the water is pumped into the distribution system. The waste brine from softening and filter backwash is discharged into the brine basin and filter backwash mudwell, respectively. The waste brine is discharged to the Auglaize River or to the sanitary sewer. Filter backwash is pumped to the waste backwash mudwell where it is discharged to the sanitary sewer.

Looking Toward The Future

The City of Wapakoneta is currently investigating and analyzing the possibilities of developing a new well field and expanding the current water treatment plant and/or building a new treatment facility to ensure a sufficient water supply for the citizens of Wapakoneta that will carry them into the next century. In 2000, the city constructed a new 1.5 MGD Composite Water Tower located on Commerce Drive in the city’s new industrial park, south of State Route 33.