WAVERLY -- A number of rural residents may soon have a new source for drinking water.
A $9 million treatment facility planned west of Waverly has the capacity to serve households and smaller communities within a 60-mile radius. Construction on the plant, a project of the Central Iowa Water Association, is slated to begin after a ground-breaking ceremony at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Plans call for a 16,000-square-foot facility at 1224 230th St. along Iowa Highway 3. Twenty-plus surrounding acres will be seeded with native grasses. Work on the facility is expected to take 15 months.
Officials with the regional association maintain the water treatment plant will better meet the needs of a growing customer base, and Bremer County Supervisor Ken Kammeyer agrees. About a year ago, supervisors gave their blessing to Central Iowa Water's intentions.
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"This is a good way to have treated water right to your doorstep," Kammeyer said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Rural Development estimates the plant will serve at least 1,000 Central Iowa Water customers and may also take on many new households. The USDA promises $5 million in loans and $2 million in grant assistance for the project.
Jim LaPlant, Central Iowa Water's chief executive officer, said in a prepared statement the plant will be good for the health of rural Iowa. He added water resources within the state are becoming increasingly contaminated, and the treatment facility ensures a safe and dependable supply.
Mark Reisinger, state director of USDA Rural Development, in prepared statements also cited health and quality of life as reasons the federal agency endorses the plan.
A water tower at the same site is also a Central Iowa Water project and is slated for completion July 15. The structure will give nearby residents a closer source for their water and is better for the entire utility's system, said Kristie Wildung, communities and expansion manager for Central Iowa Water. The water tower can be put to use as soon as the paint is applied.
Funding for the water tower also comes from the USDA.
When complete, the treatment plant will be able to purify 3 million gallons of water a day with the potential of doubling that output through future expansion.
Officials plan to use membrane technology called reverse osmosis. The Wavery plant will be the second largest using this purification system in the state, according to Central Iowa Water.
"This is very much cutting edge, state-of-the-art technology … ," Wildung said.
The Waverly facility could deliver soft water to Bremer, Butler, Black Hawk, and Buchanan counties. Water distribution is also planned for Delaware and extended portions of Buchanan County. Phased service depends on infrastructure and for some communities, funding.
The treatment plant will serve as a satellite office for Central Iowa Water's operations, which are based in Newton.
Kammeyer said county supervisors fielded only a few comments from residents regarding the project. Some worried trucks used during construction may damage roads and driveways, but Wildung said workers will follow weight restrictions.
Kammeyer wishes more people living in the country would take the initiative to test the safety of their existing water supply.
"I don't think rural individuals check enough," he said.
Residents within the service area have the option of signing on with Central Iowa Water Association for a $600 connection fee, Wildung said. For information, call (800) 400-6066.
Contact Karen Heinselman at (319) 291-1581 or karen.heinselman@wcfcourier.com.
