WHEELING, W.Va. — Residents in Wheeling could be drinking new water within the next month from the city’s new $35 million treatment plant, according to Mayor Andy McKenzie.
“The plant has just lived past it’s useful life,” said McKenzie, about the old plant that opened more than 80 years ago.
The plant is located in the Warwood section of the city on the Ohio River. The new one sits right next to it.
Currently, the new plant is treating water, but is being discharged into the Ohio River instead of being pumped into the system. This is part of a required testing period before city officials allow the water to reach homes.
“You have to make sure the quality of water does not suffer or change, so the existing plant is still producing water while the new plant is also producing water,” McKenzie said.
The city has invested millions of dollars into the transition to catch smaller particles that may get past the sand filters and to, essentially, result in better-tasting water.
“With modern technology, the quality of water will improve, the ability to deliver the water will be enhanced with the new plant and will actually drive costs down to maintain and keep the new plant from the old plant,” he said.
McKenzie said the old plant will be shut down within the next two weeks.
In total, the project is about $30.5 million for the plant building and $4.7 million for a new membrane filtration system.