The City of Norwich surface water treatment plant under construction in October 2017. (Photo from the Delaware Engineering website)

NORWICH – After being offline for the majority of 2023, the City of Norwich’s water filter treatment plant has been operating more consistently on an as-needed basis, according to Department of Public Works Superintendent Edward Pepe.

The water filter plant faced setbacks since it was built in 2018, primarily due to aluminum exceedances in the filter’s backwash. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) monitors aluminum levels to limit the impact of the plant on the environment.

“The NYSDEC monitors the wastewater, or we have to do a monthly report,” Pepe said.

The $6 million plant was built after the previous 119-year-old water treatment plant was said to be “unsafe” by the New York State Department of Health. Pepe said this was because there was a “direct connection between the raw water and the finished water, which is not ideal,” and “the plant had exceeded its useful life.”

City of Norwich Mayor Brian Doliver said, like the old plant, the new plant was always intended to provide a backup for the city’s well water. The city has four wells, but only Well Three and Well Four are used.