Indiana American Water Breaks Ground on Water Treatment Plant

Indiana American Water, a subsidiary of American Water Company joined Warsaw (Ind.) Mayor Ernest Wiggins, community leaders and project partners at a ground-breaking ceremony for a new water treatment facility. The approximately $25 million project will enhance water quality, improve system reliability and enable the company to continue to meet the needs of its customers in the area.

"This new facility will not only help us to meet the water needs of this community, but it will also allow us to deliver quality water service by adding a filtration plant to remove iron and manganese from the community's drinking water," said Indiana American Water President Alan DeBoy.

Indiana American Water purchased the Warsaw system in 2000 as part of an acquisition of four properties around the state. A comprehensive planning study completed last year identified a number of upgrades and improvements that are essential to enhancing customer service by improving water quality, safety, reliability and efficiency of the Warsaw system.

The project is utilizing a design-build concept that brings together construction and design professionals in a collaborative effort to enhance the quality of the finished project and to more effectively control project costs. The design team of Hazen and Sawyer and River City Construction was selected to design and construct the new facilities.

The project will employ several "green building" design features and will be submitted for LEED certification upon completion.

Average annual demand at the Warsaw operation is approximately 2.6 mgd with peaks as high as 4.17 mgd. The new plant and related system improvements will provide up to 6 mgd with the capability to expand to 9 mgd as future demand requires. Indiana American Water serves more than 4,600 customers, or a population of more than 16,000, in its Warsaw service area.