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In 1930 - Waterworks Technology Improves
Over the years, the principle of water filtration has remained the same. But technology has improved that process, and enhanced our ability to treat the water as well as filter it. River water still enters the plant through pipelines to a raw water basin. There, we immediately addressed problems in taste, odor and the accumulation of sediment.
For more than 80 years, Fargo's first water treatment plant has served us well. But "times change," as Papa used to say. With Fargo still growing, the old plant met increased demand through a patchwork of expansions, technological modernization's and efficient management. When it was retired with the opening of the new plant, it had a capacity of twenty-two million gallons per day
Chief among new laws was the Safe Drinking Water Act, setting requirements for water sampling, analysis and reporting. Today's standards will require Fargo to move from testing our water for 25 to 30 elements each day, to analyzing for more than 100 elements by the year 2000.
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By the 1930's electric
pumps replaced steam-powered equipment in the old plant but they certainly
weren't the only change. Time and technology changed the waterworks
- thanks to various additions and improvements - from a water filtration
plant to a basic water treatment facility.
In the old plant's
softening basins, lime and other chemicals were added to eliminate hardness.
After more time for settling, water was disinfected with chlorine, then
sent to the filters. From there, the filtered and treated water flowed
to the 6.25 million-gallon reservoir across the street, where it was
pumped out to the city.
But demand for water
quality grew, as well. After World War Two, Congress decided it was
time to tackle regulating the supply and quality of drinking water in
American cities. Federal requirements and water quality goals became
a priority, especially with the discovery of new waterborne diseases
and manmade chemicals in some water supplies.