After several water quality violations in the past few years, Hanover soon will boast the cleanest water in New Hampshire with the introduction of a new membrane filtration plant on Friday, Oct. 13 by the Hanover Water Works Company.
The new membrane filtration system will remove coliform bacteria, iron and any other particles that may be affecting the quality of the water. This is the first system of its kind in New Hampshire.
In exchange for the extra cost, there will be a noticeable improvement in the water quality beginning next Friday. The water, which currently sometimes appears red or yellow, will be clear. This will enable residents to launder their clothes without concern about discoloration or stains. A perceptible difference in the taste of the water is also expected.
This improvement does not come without cost for the consumer, estimated in September at an extra $185 per household annually.
The membrane filtration plant and new one million gallon tank for storage of treated water will enable Hanover to drastically increase its water production. In the current system, Hanover Water Works is able to treat 800 million gallons a day, but with the introduction of these new facilities, 2.5 billion gallons will be produced daily.
The current outdated water treatment process and 100-year old pipes have caused positive tests for coliform bacteria as recently as August 2006. In this past instance, four out of eight tests of the distribution system came back positive for the bacteria.
While this naturally occurring bacterium is not harmful to a healthy individual, its effect on those with compromised immune systems, such as infants or the elderly, is uncertain. More than one positive test out of eight is a violation of treatment standards because it could indicate the presence of dangerous bacteria such as fecal coliform or E. coli. The water has been tested multiple times since this violation and the results show that none of these harmful bacteria are present.
Storm damage last spring and warm summer temperatures caused other violations due to metal deposits in the water. These violations have become more common over the past few years in Hanover.
"Every summer for the last six or seven years in the June-July time frame, the pipes are warm enough that the iron deposits in the water, resulting in this iron bacteria that can survive in our treatment system. They are harmless bacteria, but they are still bacteria. We've had two violations of that kind this summer." Peter Kulbacki, general manager of Hanover Water Works Company, said.
Also contributing to improvement of water quality is the semiannual flushing of the pipes, which is scheduled for Oct. 6. This process causes temporary discoloration in the water, but the water will be clearer after the process is complete.
The flushing of the water mains helps to remove some of the metal deposits and ensures the safety of the water for the next six months.
With over a three and a half years of planning and over a year of construction finally finished, the water treatment center should improve the daily lives not only of students at Dartmouth, but also residents and businesses in the Hanover area, providing a safe, dependable water supply.
"The odors and discolored water of the past will be eliminated except for the existing debris in the distribution system from the 100+ years of carrying unfiltered water," the September newsletter from Hanover Water Works said. "Once the distribution system is flushed of debris over time and improved with line replacement projects, our customers will have the best municipal water in New Hampshire."
