Peterson Construction began work on the water softener and an improved water treatment plant on Rip Rap Road in July. The water treatment plant has also added a new larger generator and a new, more productive well to phase out an old one.
Once completed, the city’s water will be a little softer than water supplied by the city of Dayton, Bergman said.
The total hardness for the water in Huber Heights is currently around 310 milligrams per liter of calcium carbonate, which is the mineral that makes the water “hard.” The city will reduce the hardness to 120 milligrams per liter. The contractor will complete the project and the new 6,000 square-foot building to house the nano-filtration system at the beginning of July, Bergman said.
RELATED: $11 million Huber Heights water softening project starts
The city recommends that residents who already have a water softener installed at their home turn it off for a month or two once the city’s water softening is up and running. This will allow residents to decide if they want to continue using their at home water softeners. That way residents can see if there is a difference.
Although the city will start softening water at the beginning of May, it will take about a month for the softer water to work its way through the entire system.
City Manager Rob Schommer previously told this newspaper that the majority of Huber Heights residents use a water softener already and the water softening project could end up saving residents’ money if they find the new softened water is to their preference.
Some residents may decide to continue using their existing softener to lower the softening to a level even softer than what the city’s water will be, Schommer said.
The project is being paid for by a loan from the Ohio Water Development Authority and increased water rates.
The city had estimated that it would take 15 months until Huber Heights’ water will be fully softened, but it took less than 12. The project was originally estimated to cost $12 million.
Bergman said the project benefited from a mild winter.
RELATED: Huber Heights’ $2.5M water pressure project nearly complete
Huber Heights also completed a $2.5 million water pressure project in 2019.
The city increased the water pressure to 60 psi from 40 psi. Water pressure had to be upped gradually, but the water softening can be put online all at once, Bergman said.
Also this year, Huber Heights will take itsold water plant on Needmore Road offline and will make a connection to Dayton’s water supply.
This would be a backup water supply. Dayton would also be able to utilize Huber Heights’ water in the case of an emergency.
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