The state-of-the-art water filtration demonstration project at Reed Street Yards is set to start its first season of operation. The lively water feature pumps dirty canal water through a Watertronics Portable Ultra-Filtration unit, aerates it through a series of cascading streams, then delivers clean water back into the Menomonee Canal. The system cleans 15,000 gallons of canal water each day using ultra-filtration technology to clean the water to the 0.01 micron (virus) level. The system incorporates triple redundancy using UF filtration, UV light and residual chlorine disinfection. This demonstration project is intended to showcase state-of-the-art water filtration technology that can be used for disaster relief, surface water clarification, well water clarification, Cryptosporidium and Giardia removal and wastewater reuse.
The water feature contains four major thematic elements that bring the canal water through the cleaning process: first, canal water is pumped from through the Watertronics UF filtration unit and into a 5,000 gallon storage cistern. The water is then time-released into a standing pool at the top of the water feature. On a regular basis, the standing pool is emptied into a series of pools and streams as a “storm event,” causing water to dramatically surge through the system. The stream tumbles and aerates the water, adding oxygen to system before returning to the canal as clean, potable water.
The water feature will allow visitors to the Global Water Center and Reed Street Yards to witness cutting edge water filtration in a fun and educational way. The water feature will run continuously from May 1 to October 15 each year.