New equipment will save on costs at water treatment plant

Minneapolis water treatment plant
Dale Folen describes the operation of new equipment at the Minneapolis water treatment plant in Fridley, Minn. The equipment, paid for largely with a loan from the federal stimulus program, is expected to save one-million-dollars a year in the $65 million water works budget. A top federal official, Environmental Protection Agency Acting-Assistant Administrator for Water Nancy Stoner, toured the plant Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011.
MPR Photo/Stephanie Hemphill

Minneapolis showed off its new water treatment facility to a top federal official Tuesday.

New equipment at the water treatment plant in Fridley is expected to save about a million dollars in annual operating costs. The machinery deals with byproducts of the water-softening process, and will save electricity and trucking costs for wastes from the operation.

The city got help from federal stimulus funds for the project.

The new equipment is just the kind of thing for which the stimulus was intended, said Nancy Stoner, acting-administrator for water for the Environmental Protection Agency.

"This is a long-term investment for this community in drinking water protection," Stoner said. "It's also one that's energy-efficient and reduces greenhouse-gas emissions and most importantly, saves money."

Minneapolis officials say it will help keep water bills stable.

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