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Officials: Oak Springs upgrade will replace aging system but not increase permitted capacity
Summary
City engineers said the Oak Springs project will replace the spring house, clear well and treatment system, add SCADA telemetry and turbidity monitoring, but will not increase permitted spring withdrawal or total capacity.
Statham City engineering staff said the Oak Springs project is designed to replace antiquated infrastructure and maintain current permitted yields rather than expand the spring's withdrawal capacity.
"This upgrade is not to increase our capacity or increase our withdrawal," Greg Bennett, the city's principal engineer (AMI), said during the special called meeting, adding that the intent of the project is "to redo what's old and decrepit and falling apart." He said the city will keep the old system online during construction as long as possible and then take it offline briefly for commissioning and testing.
Staff described new system features that include a new spring house, a new clear well, a new treatment system, and telemetry tied into the city's SCADA system so flows and pump status will be monitored remotely and logged monthly. Bennett also said a turbidity meter required by the state environmental regulator (EPD) will automatically shut the spring down if turbidity exceeds the regulator's threshold.
Construction was described as likely to take about six months, with commissioning and testing expected to take a week or several weeks; staff estimated a potential 4—6-week period during which the city would purchase water while the spring is offline and awaiting inspection. The EPD will be required to inspect the system before the new installation is fully brought online, staff said.
Sources: remarks by Greg Bennett (principal engineer, AMI).
