At Marion Utilities, we use the word lime to refer to several different compounds. We start with dry Quicklime (calcium oxide).  It is super-heated (2500°) and crushed lime stone (it resembles flour with sand and pea gravel in).  The lime is added to a lime slacker and mixed with potable water to form a lime slurry (calcium hydroxide – looks like milk). 

The lime slurry is then pumped into the Claricone, a large funnel shaped tank, and mixed with a polymer to form the lime flocculation or lime blanket.  The lime blanket stays in the lower part of the Claricone and the raw water passes up through the blanket.  This is where the lime softening process happens.

This process happens 24/7 so several times a day, we have to discharge some of the blanket out of the cone to make room for more lime slurry.  This is done by either  “purging” the cone, manually opening a valve on the bottom, or “blowing down” the cone, opening an automatic valve in the middle of the cone.  This is how the lime and some water gets into the lagoons.  Because of the chemical reaction that happens in this part of the treatment process, the lime converts one more time and forms calcium carbonate.  This is the lime sent to the lagoons.  The lime is heavier than water so as it settles in the lagoon, the water ends up ponding on top. 
 
After passing through the lime blanket, the softened water enters the plant through the plant influent piping.  The softening process raises the PH of the water to approximately 10.8, and carbon dioxide (CO2) is added before the filters to lower the PH to around 8.5.  Chlorine (CL2) is used for disinfection and is added just before the water enters the filters.  The water flows through the filters and into the plant reservoir, and from there it is pumped into the distribution system.

Because of our lime softening process, we have the ability to form lime scale in all of the distribution piping. This is done by maintaining a proper pH level in the distribution system. One benefit of this process, the limescale coats the inside of the lead pipes, preventing any of the water from touching the lead! So, while our team works to replace those lead pipes, our residents can enjoy safe drinking water.

Marion Utilities is asking the community to support the water utility as officials there seek a rate increase.

The Utility is comprised of four separate utilities – water, wastewater, stormwater and solid waste – and it’s been more than 17 years (2005) since the water utility has increased its prices.

“Over the last several years, the water utility’s financial position has deteriorated,” explained Chuck Binkerd, Executive Director of Marion Utilities. “This coupled with the need for capital improvements puts us in a position where we need a rate increase in order to ensure continued quality and reliable service for the city.”

Presently, the utility’s assets are decreasing in value as depreciation is outpacing replacement. In addition, capital improvements are essential to the utilities’ viability - they include lead and copper abatement, overhead tank coatings and improvements, the present water meter replacement project, and water main replacements. Many of the water mains throughout the city of Marion are more than 100 years old.

The economy of the city has changed over the years as well, and water sales have fluctuated greatly as a result. Records show the utility sold 191 million gallons of water in 2002, but just 119 million gallons in 2021.

The Utility is ultimately asking for an incremental increase in the rate for the water utility, to be phased in over five years. As an example, the average residential user pays about $20.87 per month for water right now. That will increase to $25.54 in late 2023, and incrementally ramp up to $32.38 per month when the increase in fully implemented in 2027.

Low usage customers (750 gallons per month) may actually see a decrease in their bill at first – that’s because the current rate has minimum charges that the new proposal does away with.

“The new five-year plan removes the minimum use charge, giving customers more control over how much they spend by adjusting their water usage,” Binkerd explained. “It’s more fair and promotes affordability.”

In 2027, all users will pay the same rate for every 1,000 gallons used. Residential customers will pay more of the increase in the early years, and less in the later years as it is fully implemented. At that time revenues collected by each user class (residential, commercial, industrial, etc.) will be essentially equal to the actual cost to serve, and will be adequate for maintaining and upgrading the current system.

“We have worked hard to keep cost in check over the past 17 years and that is still our goal moving into the future,” Binkerd said. “After all of that time, it was inevitable that we would have to increase water rates eventually. With that in mind, we’ve been committed to developing a plan that would be both fair and affordable.”

Anyone who has questions about the rate increase is encouraged to email the utility at [email protected]. Review our water rate fact sheet here.

For the duration of Wednesday, August 24, 2022 to Friday, October 7, 2022, North Washington Street between Bond Avenue and Christy Street will be closed.

Thru traffic may need to be rerouted from Highland Avenue, or at least Stephenson Street to the south. Bond Avenue will remain accessible from the north.

Appropriate signage will be posted at the intersections of Washington Street and Bond Avenue as well as at Highland Avenue and Stephenson Street on Washington Street south of the construction.

Traffic flow in and out of the Recycle Center will remain the same. The entrance to the south annex will remain open and accessible from the south, and Bond Ave will remain open and accessible from the north.

If you have any questions, please call Marion Utilities at 765-664-2391. 

​Thank you.