Town on Water Plant: Construction, Testing Near Completion

Issues that surfaced during a two-week demonstration period of the new Consolidated Water District water filtration plant are currently being resolved, according to the Town of Bedford.

Officials say the facility should be approved by regulatory agencies this month. Here is a full update, sent through the town's web update system Friday:

Construction and testing of the new Consolidated Water District Water Filtration Plant is almost complete. The construction contractors successfully operated the plant for two weeks in March and early April using water treatment chemicals to fully demonstrate and optimize operations. A few system issues became apparent during the two-week demonstration period, and they are currently being resolved. This has added two months to the project schedule.

Getting to this point has been delayed due to equipment related issues. Barring further delays or issues, the plant will likely be completed, tested, and approved by regulatory agencies in May 2013. At that point the District plans to treat NYC water and supply it to our customers. The project continues to be within budget.

The plant was designed with technologies to allow for unattended operation, as is the case with our current water treatment facilities. For about one year, the new plant will be used along with our existing well supplies while we test the plant and work to obtain regulatory approval to run the plant without the need for constant staffing. During this one-year period the supply will be blended from the new plant and existing wells, so the water will still have moderate to high levels of hardness (calcium and magnesium). Residents with water softeners are advised to keep them until we are fully switched over to the new supply. Information will be sent to residents by letter and Town website postings about when the new plant is in use and when the use of the existing wells has stopped.

Please contact the Bedford DPW Water Division at 914-666-7855 if you have questions or require additional information.

Here are some related stories:

• Roosevelt Drive Residents Eye Town-Water Plan
• Water Filtration Plant Launch Pushed to January
• VIDEO: Water Filtration Plant Nearing Completion
• Water Plant Groundbreaking Set for Saturday
• Water Contracts OK'd 
• Department of Corrections to Share Costs in New Water Plant