This is an award winning Jones Edmunds project.

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) caused a greenish-brown color, and it often had an objectionable smell because of hydrogen sulfide. To make their water potable, the City had to rely on high levels of disinfectant dosing leading to the creation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs).

When the EPA’s Stage I DBP Rule went into effect and water quality regulations were tightened, the City fell out of compliance. Over the past two years, before construction of the new facility, the City of St. Cloud was legally required to send its water utility customers a notice of noncompliance that discussed potential health issues that could occur over time because their water exceeded standards for Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and Haloacetic Acids (HAAs).

Jones Edmunds & Associates, Inc. worked with the City to create a unique solution: the largest operating magnetic ion exchange (MIEX®) treatment plant in the United States. The H. Clay Whaley Sr. Memorial Water plant is designed to treat 9 MGD and can be easily expanded to 12 MGD.

Coming online on March 27, 2008, the plant provided EPA-compliant water within three days, and dramatically improved the taste and odor of the community’s water. This facility now produces over 90% of the water delivered to St. Cloud residents, with a current water service area population of approximately 35,000.

-It uses much less water than conventional membrane process alternatives.
-The MIEX® process can remove hydrogen sulfide (the smell) in addition to DOC and color, which membrane processes can’t do. While the design provided pH adjustment and deep-bubble aeration as a polishing step to remove any remaining hydrogen sulfide, the MIEX® process proved to be so effective that the aeration process was turned off and held in reserve only for emergencies. -MIEX® has lower O&M costs and produces less brine waste than conventional ion exchange systems. §The simplicity of the MIEX® process enables the City’s operations staff to work effectively without significant additional training.

The Jones Edmunds “Gravity Flow” design is a key energy-saving element. Without re-pumping, groundwater flows through the whole treatment system to storage before high-service pumping to the City’s customers.

-It is the first MIEX® facility specifically designed to promote hydrogen sulfide removal.
-It is the first full-scale facility to use Sodium Bicarbonate as a resin regenerate.  This was proven as a viable option for the first time during pilot testing for this plant. This environmentally-friendly solution eliminates the brine waste products produced when using Sodium Chloride, the traditional MIEX® resin regenerate. 
-The plant features the first ever full-scale installation of a magnetic resin polishing system. This system prevents any resin from entering the distribution system. Although the resin is certified by the National Sanitation Foundation, the project team wanted to prevent any resin from entering the system for aesthetic reasons.
-It is the first MIEX® facility to use cast-in-place concrete construction. This improves system reliability and operation while also providing long-term (greater than 30 years), structural integrity of the major treatment components.

Due to the limited amount of suitable land available for the plant, the City had to build the facility directly across the street from the home of a local family. The team worked to ensure minimum impact to the landowner and surrounding community. The site, structures, and administrative building are designed to meet the residents’ visual aesthetic interests.

-Minimum plant footprint, limited to a 5-acre site.
-Low-profile (limited to 12-foot side water depth) finished-water ground storage tanks.
-Maximum process tank structure height of 30 feet.
-Landscaped berm around the 5-acre site to provide a visual buffer and provide improved security.

The project was pilot tested, permitted (including well field), designed, advertised, bid, and awarded within 24 months and was constructed and operational within 20 months, for a total time of approximately 3.7 years from initiation.