Water Treatment Plant
The Water Treatment Plant is located
in Ector County Texas. All of the water processed at
the Plant is purchased untreated from the
Colorado River Municipal Water District (CRMWD).
Surface or lake water is received year round. The
majority of the surface water comes from Lake lvie;
however, water can be received from Lake Spence and
Lake Thomas. During the warm weather months,
groundwater is received from a well field in Ward
County. (Information regarding CRMWD and Odessa's
water supply can be obtained by clicking [ Here ])
The surface water receives full treatment including
coagulation,
flocculation,
sedimentation,
filtration,
pH adjustment, and
disinfection. Chemicals used in the coagulation
process include alum (aluminum sulfate) and a
polymer. Sodium hydroxide is used to adjust the pH
of the water to ensure that it is stable, or
non-corrosive. A chloramine disinfectant
(combination of chlorine and ammonia) is used to
ensure the bacteriological quality of the water
through disinfection.
The well water only requires pH adjustment with
sodium hydroxide and disinfection with chloramines.
After treatment, water is stored onsite in covered
clear wells until it is pumped into the distribution
system. In addition to the water storage facilities
at the Plant, there are three overhead water towers
located in the water distribution system. These
towers not only serve as storage facilities, but
they also help enhance water pressures in the
distribution system.
The Water Treatment Plant is designed to treat 50
million gallons per day (MGD), based on filter
capacity. In addition, approximately 20
MGD of well water can be processed. The total
amount of water treated annually is approximately 7
billion gallons.
The City of Odessa's water supply is approved by the
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
The water meets all of the Primary Drinking Water
Standards established by the TCEQ and the
Environmental Protection Agency to protect the
public health.
The Water Treatment Plant is manned 24 hours per day
by TCEQ licensed operators. In addition to the
operational staff, maintenance personnel conduct
preventive maintenance as well as the repairs
required to ensure water can be processed and pumped
into the distribution system on a continuous basis.
