Columbus, Ohio, has embarked on construction of a $1.6 billion water treatment plant in Delaware County that is expected to provide the region with safe water for decades. According to The Columbus Dispatch, the Home Road Water Plant will be the fourth treatment plant in Columbus’ history and the largest investment in water infrastructure in the city.

The water treatment facility will initially have a capacity of 48 million gallons per day (MGD), with plans to increase this capacity to 80 MGD in the future. Officials are optimistic that it will be an invaluable resource for a metropolitan area projected to be above 3 million residents by 2050.

The facility will be powered entirely by floating solar panels, which will give it the designation of being one of the most energy-efficient municipal water plants in the country, according to Dalmartv. 

With the renewable component, the city can offset some of the costs of operating the facility while accomplishing the area's climate objectives and sustainability goals.

The 10TV article reported that the plant will occupy the site of the former Scioto Juvenile Correctional Facility, reusing developed land and thus minimizing the impact of development. A new pipeline connection to the city distribution system will be more than 20 miles long and run underground.

City leaders are eager to point out that this project has many aspects, and it is not simply about satisfying water demands. Long-term vision is required to provide for population growth and climate-related effects, together with stresses on existing infrastructure. They also indicated that the plant would be provided with cutting-edge treatment technologies to deal with inevitable changes in water quality and events that could cause contamination.

Columbus' investment in its water plant is part of a trend in other cities, where they will expand and upgrade their water infrastructure. Nationally, the major contractors are also developing large-scale, similar projects. 

As previously reported by Contractor News, PCL is advancing mega water infrastructure projects, while coastal areas are investing heavily in port facilities, and upgrading facilities like Charleston Harbor in South Carolina.

 The Home Road Water Plant is anticipated to take a number of years to construct. Construction will involve a phased commissioning schedule to enable ongoing smooth integration into Columbus's water system. But when the plant does come alive, it will protect the city's supply for generations. Simply put, it will also serve as a model for sustainable municipal water treatment.