FORT KNOX, Ky. — After being shut down in November 2020 for renovations, Fort Knox’s Muldraugh Water Treatment Plant is once again operational and treating water for the installation and the city of Muldraugh.
Fort Knox Public Works Director Jason Root said the decision to conduct a $15 million renovation to the plant was made out of necessity.
“The MWTP was originally constructed and its equipment installed in 1941,” said Root. “While workers have maintained the facility for the past 80 years through routine maintenance and spot repairs, it simply outlived its useful life and was not nearly as efficient as what we have now.”
The original completion date was set for Sept. 1, 2021, but Root said the project faced abnormally long lead times on materials and equipment resulting from supply chain issues that linger from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hardin County Water District No. 1 is currently responsible for the daily operations of the facility under a utilities privatization contract. General manager for HCWD No. 1 Stephen Hogan said the renovation of the MWTP has brought the treatment plant up to current standards for treatment processes, water quality and technology.
Hogan said the facility is currently producing about 1.5 to 2 million gallons per day, but is capable of producing up to 7.2 MGD.
Hogan said another main reason for the renovation was the switch from chlorine to chloramines.
“All surrounding water utilities use chloramines, which allows interconnection and use of water from surrounding utilities,” said Hogan. “This provides flexibility, reliability and resiliency for Fort Knox.
“Chloramines also have the added benefit of providing longer lasting disinfection in the distribution system.”
Hogan said the plant has a wide array of new features, to include additional aeration, digital controls, improved analytical monitoring and a new process control laboratory. The plant also features added redundancy as well as increased security measures to increase resiliency.
Water testing was also enhanced.
“The plant previously tested for total dissolved solids, temperature, calcium hardness, total hardness, pH, bacteria, alkalinity, chlorides, dissolved oxygen, fluoride, turbidity, iron, manganese and odor,” said Hogan. “We still test for all of that, but have added tests for free ammonia, monochloramine and total chlorine.”
Root said the customer will likely notice little change to their water, except for one thing.
“As the Muldraugh plant serves as a water softener for the area, those living and working on the installation may notice the water is slightly less hard, but other than that, the water quality will remain virtually the same.”
Root said some things will never change.
“This renovation will allow the plant to continue to provide the high quality, reliable drinking water the Fort Knox community expects and deserves for many years to come.”
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