WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah -
It's the first of its kind in the world, and the technology was created right here in Utah. There are now two new water treatment facilities in the state, and they're designed to make the drinking water safer for you and the environment. But will the new "green technology" really remove contaminants from our tap and wastewater?
Turns out, 95 % of your drinking water comes from an underground well, but that well water contains arsenic and possibly perchlorate. Both are contaminants the Magna Water District wants out. Ed Hanson, who's the General Manager of the Magna Water District says "We've been working on this facility, the design, and the technology for over 12 years now." Hansen teamed up with Carollo Engineers to create "bio brox". It's new green technology that treats the drinking water supply and wastewater. Hansen says, "We're quite excited for this new facility here to serve the northwest portion of West Valley City and the unincorporated area of Salt Lake County, Magna township."
Two new facilities in the name of going green? Why would the Magna Water District pour money into a project of this magnitude? Turns out the project costs $26 million, and it was federally mandated. The EPA said the levels of arsenic were simply too high. Jess Brown, who is with Carollo Engineers believes, "It's always one of those issues of relative risk. The toxicology data the EPA had been working on got better. They understood the potential health impacts of arsenic and perchlorate and so as those health data changed, they changed the standards. So it's not necessarily that it was unsafe."
The Environmental Protection Agency set its new standards in 2006. That's when the water district decided to develop new technology to remove perchlorate, a by product of explosives thanks to the Aerospace industry. High levels of the contaminant were discovered in the water supply in 1996 which forced the closure of a local well. That well has been shut down ever since. Brown explains, "Suddenly we were finding it in the drinking water so that was at the point where we started toxicology studies and try to understand the impact to our health." Those health effects are still uknown, although some suggest the consumption of perchlorate can lead to thyroid problems.
The Magna Water District and Carollo Engineers, who helped develop the new technology "Bio Brox" say it's also used to treat wastewater, which is for the environment. They claim the new technology cleans wastewater before its dumped into the earth. Brown says "Bio Brox" will ultimately create safer drinking water. They claim the water that pours out of your faucet is safer to drink than bottled water. Brown says, "The best water that you have going for you and the safest, healthiest water you have comes right out of your tap." Bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Engineers say the EPA's standards are much higher than the FDA's.
The two new treatment facilities are located in Salt Lake County. The treatment of the valley's drinking water supply will take place at it West Valley facility. The second facility, used to treat wastewater is located in Magna.
SEND US YOUR NEWS AND WEATHER PICTURES! Click Here to Visit Our Photo/Video Submission Page
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @fox13now
Turns out, 95 % of your drinking water comes from an underground well, but that well water contains arsenic and possibly perchlorate. Both are contaminants the Magna Water District wants out. Ed Hanson, who's the General Manager of the Magna Water District says "We've been working on this facility, the design, and the technology for over 12 years now." Hansen teamed up with Carollo Engineers to create "bio brox". It's new green technology that treats the drinking water supply and wastewater. Hansen says, "We're quite excited for this new facility here to serve the northwest portion of West Valley City and the unincorporated area of Salt Lake County, Magna township."
Two new facilities in the name of going green? Why would the Magna Water District pour money into a project of this magnitude? Turns out the project costs $26 million, and it was federally mandated. The EPA said the levels of arsenic were simply too high. Jess Brown, who is with Carollo Engineers believes, "It's always one of those issues of relative risk. The toxicology data the EPA had been working on got better. They understood the potential health impacts of arsenic and perchlorate and so as those health data changed, they changed the standards. So it's not necessarily that it was unsafe."
The Environmental Protection Agency set its new standards in 2006. That's when the water district decided to develop new technology to remove perchlorate, a by product of explosives thanks to the Aerospace industry. High levels of the contaminant were discovered in the water supply in 1996 which forced the closure of a local well. That well has been shut down ever since. Brown explains, "Suddenly we were finding it in the drinking water so that was at the point where we started toxicology studies and try to understand the impact to our health." Those health effects are still uknown, although some suggest the consumption of perchlorate can lead to thyroid problems.
The Magna Water District and Carollo Engineers, who helped develop the new technology "Bio Brox" say it's also used to treat wastewater, which is for the environment. They claim the new technology cleans wastewater before its dumped into the earth. Brown says "Bio Brox" will ultimately create safer drinking water. They claim the water that pours out of your faucet is safer to drink than bottled water. Brown says, "The best water that you have going for you and the safest, healthiest water you have comes right out of your tap." Bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Engineers say the EPA's standards are much higher than the FDA's.
The two new treatment facilities are located in Salt Lake County. The treatment of the valley's drinking water supply will take place at it West Valley facility. The second facility, used to treat wastewater is located in Magna.
SEND US YOUR NEWS AND WEATHER PICTURES! Click Here to Visit Our Photo/Video Submission Page
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @fox13now
Digg
Twitter
Facebook
StumbleUpon
