Board of directors discusses installation of upgraded system

The recarbonization system would cut maintenance costs.
By TIM YOVICH
Vindicator Trumbull Staff
MINERAL RIDGE -- The Mahoning Valley Sanitary District's board of directors will have to decide if the district wants to invest an estimated $5.5 million to reduce mineral buildup in waterlines.
Tom Holloway, MVSD chief engineer, said Thursday that if the board wants to install a "recarbonization system," it will have to seek a rate increase from the court of jurisdiction.
Recarbonization would reduce the buildup of calcium carbonate scale, thus lowering maintenance costs for pipes, the filtration system and valves. It also would help protect plumbing and hot water heaters in homes and businesses, thus reducing replacement frequency.
"That's something the board of directors will have to decide," Holloway said.
If the directors approve spending the money, the recarbonization system will be constructed in 2007 and 2008.
Lime buildup
MVSD processes water from Meander Reservoir and sells it wholesale to its member cities of Youngstown, Niles and McDonald for resale to their customers. The district currently charges its customers 91 cents per 1,000 gallons.
About 300,000 people use MVSD water.
Holloway said that during the water treatment process at the district, lime is added to soften the water. The addition of lime, however, causes the water to become saturated with calcium carbonate that buildings up in the distribution system both inside and outside the plant.
It also builds up on the valves, Holloway added.
The addition of carbon dioxide into the system will reducethe buildup of scaling "significantly," he said.
Resurfacing scale
If nothing is done to correct the problem, Holloway said, the scale ends up in hot water heaters and plumbing fixtures in businesses and homes.
When that occurs, the heaters and plumbing have to be replaced. The buildup is more prevalent in copper and brass pipes, but is also found in plastic pipe.
The scaling can be seen when hot water heaters are drained or on aerators, or small screens, in a water faucet.
There is also a buildup in water meters, but Holloway said he doesn't know if it affects accuracy.
Small waterlines at the district become clogged, Holloway said, noting that the pressure of water flow in larger pipes allows the scaling to build only so far.
Because of scaling and the age of district equipment, the MVSD is involved in a $7.3 million project to upgrade 16 filters, replace 160 valves and construct a building.
yovich@vindy.com