Oak Ridge expects membrane‑filtration water plant online in June; ribbon cutting planned

Carrie Aiken, public works director, gave an update on the city’s new membrane‑filtration water treatment plant and said membrane modules were recently installed and the team is preparing for operational testing.

Aiken said the planned five‑day test was delayed but the 20‑day run with the prime contractor and operations staff is scheduled in May so the utility can train employees on SCADA and operations. She described the modules (7‑foot tubular membrane trains, 8½‑inch diameter, pore size 0.01 micrometers) and explained backwash and acid‑cleaning routines used to maintain membrane performance.

Aiken said fiber installation by the electric department will support SCADA controls and that staff expect the plant to be able to send treated water into the distribution system by June, when a ribbon cutting is planned. She said routine residential customers should not see changes to pressure or rates; the city will send public messaging and can arrange preview tours for council prior to the formal ceremony.

Council had no substantive objections; staff said a small number of remaining deliverables (a lab for sampling and some finishes) are still pending and that the raw water line replacement scheduled for later in the contract will occur after the plant is fully operational.