City of Newport - Utilities - Water

Capital Projects

City Advisor for Water Utility Strategic Options and Delivery of Improvements to Water Treatment Facilities.

In February, 2004 Newport Water completed a comprehensive regulatory compliance evaluation of both of the water treatment facilities to evaluate the existing processes ability to maintain regulatory compliance with current and future drinking water regulations. The final report recommended improvements at each facility for both the short term and the long term.

In October 2004 Newport Water awarded a contract to Camp Dresser and Mckee, Inc. to design the recommended short term improvements at each facility. The short term improvements at Station 1 included pretreatment optimization for Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal and the conversion to the use of chloramines as a secondary disinfectant to reduce Disinfectant By Product (DBP) levels.

The short term improvements at Lawton Valley included pretreatment optimization for TOC removal, Chlorine Contact Time (CT) optimization, and the conversion to the use of chloramines as a secondary disinfectant to reduce DBP levels. In accordance with the May 24, 2004 directive from the RIDOH, Office of Drinking Water Quality, any proposed change to existing treatment or the installation of new treatment must review any potential effects on lead and copper levels in the distribution system including that of any wholesale customer.

There is a concern that a change in the water chemistry for compliance with the DBP regulations could result in non compliance with the Lead Rule. Piloting with the use of pipe loops is currently underway for the proposed conversion to the use of chloramines. The City is also in the process of converting the pH adjustment chemical at both facilities from lime to caustic which is anticipated to be completed in July 2008.

The long term treatment goals used for the compliance evaluation are plant specific:

Station 1 WTP- To achieve treatment reliability to provide the maximum day design capacity of 9 MGD with one treatment unit off-line.

Lawton Valley WTP- To achieve reliability in terms of treatment, structure, equipment, code compliance, and health and safety.

For Station 1, based on the recommendations from the compliance evaluation the City intends to install an additional pretreatment/clarification train. Engineering design and pilot testing will confirm the actual treatment processes. The recommendation for the Lawton Valley Facility is to construct of a new plant to replace the 1942 plant. The recommended treatment processes for a new plant will be the same as those recommended for the upgrade to the Station 1 plant. This recommendation will assist with ease of operations and provide the ability for the operators to work between the two facilities.

The schedule for the long-term improvements presented in Newport Water's Capital Improvement program projects the improvements at Station 1 being completed prior to the actual start of construction of the new LVWTP. This approach will give the City the reliability of the Station 1 plant providing treatment at the design capacity of 9 MGD. In accordance with pending Consent Agreements with the RIDOH and RIDEM, the goal is to have the new LVWTP on line by the end of 2014.

Recognizing the extensive financial and management responsibilities for implanting the capital improvements at the water treatment facilities, in December, 2007 the City issued a request for proposals (RFP) to provide professional services as the City's Advisor for strategic options and project delivery alternatives for the long term improvements at the water treatment facilities.

A contract to be the City Advisor for the water treatment plant improvements was awarded to Camp, Dresser, and Mckee, Inc. in March 2008. The City Advisor will provide professional services for the City that are necessary to fully develop the strategy for the delivery of the Plant improvements and to manage and oversee on behalf of the City the procurement, design and construction of these improvements. The City Advisor will serve as a single point of contact for the City.

Phase 1 of the project is related to providing detailed information sufficient for the City to make strategic decisions regarding how to proceed with the capital improvements and management of the City owned utility. Phase 1 of the project is scheduled to be completed in October, 2008. The Phase 1 scope of services will be provided in two parts: Phase 1A- Utility Ownership/Governance and Project Delivery Strategy and Phase 1B-Water Treatment Plant Delivery Strategy. The results of Phase 1A are presented in the July, 2008 Report.

Easton Pond Dam & Moat Study

In September, 2006 the City Council awarded a contract for engineering services to Fuss & O'Neill, Inc. for the Easton Pond Dam & Moat Study.

The work included an assessment of the dam and appurtenant structures which form North and South Easton Pond and an evaluation of the drainage moat which surrounds the dam.

South Pond Spillway

The City has identified the Easton Pond dam and its integral drainage moat as a vital piece of the city infrastructure for both its drinking water and storm drainage. Easton Pond consists of North Easton Pond and South Easton Pond totaling 112.7 acres and 147.5 acres respectively.

The north and south ponds are separated by an earthen embankment and connected by pipelines through the embankment. The ponds are two of the raw water reservoirs used by the Newport Water Division. Water from these reservoirs is treated at the Station 1- Water Treatment Plant located on Bliss Mine Road. The Easton Pond has served as a raw water source dating back to 1877 and is a vital part of the Newport Water Division's infrastructure.

The last significant work completed on the dam was reconstruction of the spillway and south bank of the dam in 1939.

A drainage moat encircles the South Pond Dam starting at Station 1- Water Treatment Plant and discharges under Memorial Boulevard to the Atlantic Ocean at Easton's Beach in the same area of the spillway for South Pond.

The shallow, nearly flat ditch (moat) was apparently constructed to carry runoff from an area northwest of the pond and flow from the emergency spillway of North Pond.

West Embankment

Prior to the new Station 1 coming on line in 1991, filter backwash water and sediment from the sedimentation basin cleaning were discharged into the moat.

These discharges are now discharged directly to the Bliss Mine Road Sewer Pumping Station. Over the years with the development in the City, the moat has also become a discharge channel for numerous storm drains. During significant rain events the capacity of the moat is exceeded and area flooding occurs which at times leads to road or travel lane closures.