XENIA — The Greene County Sanitary Engineering Department will soon introduce advanced water softening technology to improve the quality of tap water throughout the water service area.
Last Thursday, Mark Chandler, director, and Randy Gilbert, assistant director, spoke about the Greene Forward initiative during a power-point presentation at the county commissioners meeting.
This significant advancement in water quality will benefit residents of Beavercreek, Cedarville, portions of Centerville and Kettering, and neighboring townships such as Xenia, Bath, Beavercreek, New Jasper, and Silvercreek.
According to officials, this initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize aging infrastructure and address increasing water demands. The Northwest Regional Water Treatment Plant will be upgraded with state-of-the-art reverse osmosis technology designed to reduce water hardness effectively.
“The upgrade and expansion of Greene County’s Northwest Regional Water Treatment Plant (NRWTP) will include the addition of reverse osmosis (RO) membrane treatment and the expansion of treatment capacity from 10 million gallons per day (MGD) to 12 MGD, with provisions for additional plant expansion up to 16 MGD to meet longer-term projected demands,” Chandler said.
The transition will begin in early September, with a gradual decrease in hardness level during a 12-week period, culminating in a noticeable decrease by the end of November, Chandler added.
“The hardness of the water will decrease from the current level of 27 grains per gallon to approximately eight grains per gallon,” he said.
The new system will not only improve water quality but enhance the efficiency of cleaning and heating processes, extend the lifespan of appliances and fixtures, and reduce maintenance needs. Sanitary Engineering staff suggest residents who currently utilize water softeners should consider adjusting or re-calibrating their units to ensure optimal performance and avoid potential over-softening which may affect plumbing durability.
Gilbert said the broader effort will be built over the next five to 10 years.
Reach Karen Rase at 937-502-4534.
