MitchSchaft
New Member
Here's a link: http://gwint1.gwi.memphis.edu/history/history.htm
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MitchSchaft
New Member
Gross! I read through that link and found out back in 1870 they tried to feed us water from the Wolf River :barf:
unclehobart
New Member
Memphis Water:
A collaboration of nature and science
By now, many of us know that we enjoy some of the purest and best tasting water in the world. It is one of the many aspects that makes Memphis such a great place to live. However, many of us are unaware of how our water came to be of this exceptional quality. Though we are situated on the bluff of the mighty Mississippi, one of the world’s greatest waterways, the river does not supply our drinking water or water for our industrial needs.
Memphis rests upon an aquifer system that is accessed by one of the largest artesian water systems in the world, owned and operated by MLGW, to produce some of the purest water in the world. Many cities across the nation obtain their water from surface water sources such as lakes and rivers. But in Memphis, our water comes from a vast underground water system composed of clay, gravel and sand. The water is housed within the sand, which acts as the natural filter to remove any impurities.
Retrieving this precious commodity from deep in the ground into the faucets in your home involves massive efforts of coordination, management, treatment and distribution by our water specialists at MLGW. Throughout Shelby County, MLGW’s 10 water pumping stations operate more than 175 wells. A three-phase process filters and fortifies water with chlorine, fluoride and phosphate to ensure the highest standards of purity. Once treated, water is distributed to nearly 250,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers throughout the county.
Our water is a source of pride that we work hard to preserve for our customers. Through the collaborative effort of nature and science, technicians at our Water Quality Assurance Laboratory work to ensure water quality by subjecting it to more than 38,000 tests each year. Though our naturally pure water needs little treatment, we put forth this additional care to add to the final quality, safety and taste that you are accustomed to enjoying.
The journey to your home
Wells:
Within a three-mile radius of each of the 10 MLGW water-pumping stations throughout Memphis and Shelby County are more than 175 drilled wells (typically referred to as artesian wells) that retrieve water from the Memphis Sand Aquifer located deep below the surface. It is in this aquifer, or underground reservoir, in which we find groundwater. This aquifer is part of a larger aquifer system that extends to a depth of 2,600 feet and is constructed of water-bearing layers of clay, sand and gravel. Each of these elements acts as a sponge and naturally filters out many impurities. The wells act like straws and draw the naturally purified water to the surface by releasing the accumulated pressure which, in turn, forces the water upward. Each of these wells is capable of providing between 1.5 and 2.5 million gallons of water per day. Memphis is the largest city in the world to rely solely on artesian wells for its water supply.
Aerator:
From each wells’ location, water is pumped to an aerator for the water treatment process to begin. Each aerator consists of nine trays, over which water cascades. This increases the water’s exposure to oxygen, which functions as a cleansing agent that rids the water of hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide and other dissolved gases. We liken this process to airing out the musty odors of a house, the difference being that the elements giving your water an unpleasant odor or taste are being aired out thereby giving you great tasting water.
Filter:
First filtered naturally underground, the now aerated water is gravity-fed through a series of filters containing several layers of sand, anthracite and other filtering materials. Each of these filters can process almost 2 million gallons of water per day, and iron and manganese are removed as water flows through the filtration layers. Though the iron and manganese levels are not harmful to our health, by removing it, you get clear water that doesn’t stain your clothes or corrode your plumbing fixtures.
Treatment:
Once the water is filtered, it flows through a chamber where exact quantities of fluoride, sodium hypochlorite and phosphate are added to enhance its quality. Fluoride is added to protect teeth from tooth decay; sodium hypochlorite is added to kill bacteria and a phosphate is added just before distribution to inhibit corrosion in the water distribution system and in the pipes in your home. Once this treatment process is completed and the water is “finished,” it is ready to be distributed for you to enjoy.
Nature's Filters:
The source of our water is deep aquifers within the earth. This water has undergone a slow, natural filtering process through the outcropping sands. From this high quality water source, MLGW pumps and further treats it to obtain a finished product that ranks among the finest in the world.
Reservoirs:
Finished water courses through concrete reservoirs and is stored for later distribution to MLGW’s 248,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers throughout the city and county. This storage technique is used to prevent contamination, algae growth and temperature variations during storage. Each of the 10 pumping stations has its own reservoir, which can store several million gallons of water.
Pumps:
You are assured to have a steady flow of water when you turn on your faucet due to the high pressure in the underground distribution mains. This is because, from the reservoir, water is released into a clear water well then pumped into the underground distribution mains by a high-pressure pump. Because the pump is continuously feeding water into the water mains, you’re always assured of water on demand. To prevent too much water from flooding the system, the System Control and Data Acquisition center (SCADA) monitors the system’s water pressure around the clock and reduces it when water use is low.
Testing:
The Water Quality Assurance Laboratory, located at the Sheahan Pumping Station, houses a team of chemists and other water experts who consistently monitor the water quality. Water samples are taken regularly and randomly from the city and county and are subjected to rigorous testing for a variety of contaminants. This continuous testing process keeps the safety of our water under perpetual examination.
Water quality analyses results:
About the following charts: The charts on the subsequent pages show components that are detected and how they compare to the established Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL). Most regulated and unregulated contaminant components monitored by the EPA are not detected in Memphis drinking water, thus affirming its excellent quality. Note that all the detected components (which represent the maximum found at any time in 2001) fall well below the MCLs
A collaboration of nature and science
By now, many of us know that we enjoy some of the purest and best tasting water in the world. It is one of the many aspects that makes Memphis such a great place to live. However, many of us are unaware of how our water came to be of this exceptional quality. Though we are situated on the bluff of the mighty Mississippi, one of the world’s greatest waterways, the river does not supply our drinking water or water for our industrial needs.
Memphis rests upon an aquifer system that is accessed by one of the largest artesian water systems in the world, owned and operated by MLGW, to produce some of the purest water in the world. Many cities across the nation obtain their water from surface water sources such as lakes and rivers. But in Memphis, our water comes from a vast underground water system composed of clay, gravel and sand. The water is housed within the sand, which acts as the natural filter to remove any impurities.
Retrieving this precious commodity from deep in the ground into the faucets in your home involves massive efforts of coordination, management, treatment and distribution by our water specialists at MLGW. Throughout Shelby County, MLGW’s 10 water pumping stations operate more than 175 wells. A three-phase process filters and fortifies water with chlorine, fluoride and phosphate to ensure the highest standards of purity. Once treated, water is distributed to nearly 250,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers throughout the county.
Our water is a source of pride that we work hard to preserve for our customers. Through the collaborative effort of nature and science, technicians at our Water Quality Assurance Laboratory work to ensure water quality by subjecting it to more than 38,000 tests each year. Though our naturally pure water needs little treatment, we put forth this additional care to add to the final quality, safety and taste that you are accustomed to enjoying.
The journey to your home
Wells:
Within a three-mile radius of each of the 10 MLGW water-pumping stations throughout Memphis and Shelby County are more than 175 drilled wells (typically referred to as artesian wells) that retrieve water from the Memphis Sand Aquifer located deep below the surface. It is in this aquifer, or underground reservoir, in which we find groundwater. This aquifer is part of a larger aquifer system that extends to a depth of 2,600 feet and is constructed of water-bearing layers of clay, sand and gravel. Each of these elements acts as a sponge and naturally filters out many impurities. The wells act like straws and draw the naturally purified water to the surface by releasing the accumulated pressure which, in turn, forces the water upward. Each of these wells is capable of providing between 1.5 and 2.5 million gallons of water per day. Memphis is the largest city in the world to rely solely on artesian wells for its water supply.
Aerator:
From each wells’ location, water is pumped to an aerator for the water treatment process to begin. Each aerator consists of nine trays, over which water cascades. This increases the water’s exposure to oxygen, which functions as a cleansing agent that rids the water of hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide and other dissolved gases. We liken this process to airing out the musty odors of a house, the difference being that the elements giving your water an unpleasant odor or taste are being aired out thereby giving you great tasting water.
Filter:
First filtered naturally underground, the now aerated water is gravity-fed through a series of filters containing several layers of sand, anthracite and other filtering materials. Each of these filters can process almost 2 million gallons of water per day, and iron and manganese are removed as water flows through the filtration layers. Though the iron and manganese levels are not harmful to our health, by removing it, you get clear water that doesn’t stain your clothes or corrode your plumbing fixtures.
Treatment:
Once the water is filtered, it flows through a chamber where exact quantities of fluoride, sodium hypochlorite and phosphate are added to enhance its quality. Fluoride is added to protect teeth from tooth decay; sodium hypochlorite is added to kill bacteria and a phosphate is added just before distribution to inhibit corrosion in the water distribution system and in the pipes in your home. Once this treatment process is completed and the water is “finished,” it is ready to be distributed for you to enjoy.
Nature's Filters:
The source of our water is deep aquifers within the earth. This water has undergone a slow, natural filtering process through the outcropping sands. From this high quality water source, MLGW pumps and further treats it to obtain a finished product that ranks among the finest in the world.
Reservoirs:
Finished water courses through concrete reservoirs and is stored for later distribution to MLGW’s 248,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers throughout the city and county. This storage technique is used to prevent contamination, algae growth and temperature variations during storage. Each of the 10 pumping stations has its own reservoir, which can store several million gallons of water.
Pumps:
You are assured to have a steady flow of water when you turn on your faucet due to the high pressure in the underground distribution mains. This is because, from the reservoir, water is released into a clear water well then pumped into the underground distribution mains by a high-pressure pump. Because the pump is continuously feeding water into the water mains, you’re always assured of water on demand. To prevent too much water from flooding the system, the System Control and Data Acquisition center (SCADA) monitors the system’s water pressure around the clock and reduces it when water use is low.
Testing:
The Water Quality Assurance Laboratory, located at the Sheahan Pumping Station, houses a team of chemists and other water experts who consistently monitor the water quality. Water samples are taken regularly and randomly from the city and county and are subjected to rigorous testing for a variety of contaminants. This continuous testing process keeps the safety of our water under perpetual examination.
Water quality analyses results:
About the following charts: The charts on the subsequent pages show components that are detected and how they compare to the established Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL). Most regulated and unregulated contaminant components monitored by the EPA are not detected in Memphis drinking water, thus affirming its excellent quality. Note that all the detected components (which represent the maximum found at any time in 2001) fall well below the MCLs
MitchSchaft
New Member
unclehobart
New Member
well damn... your near mountain strata seems perfect to hold a shitload of underground water... and god knows the whole area is innundated with water to recharge it.
unclehobart
New Member
Memphis is the largest city in the world to rely solely on artesian wells for its water supply.
...thats the part that gets me
...thats the part that gets me
MitchSchaft
New Member
I didn't know all that shit! All I knew is it came from underground and it tastes awesome. 
unclehobart
New Member
NYC is still the best. They pump it in from snowmelt in the north. Its too pure to be believed.
MitchSchaft
New Member
I've never had it. I know Texas water is absolute shit. Atleast the Dallas area. Kentucky water is not much behind them.
unclehobart
New Member
breaktime... need grub.
MitchSchaft
New Member
I'm proud of my water system! 
MitchSchaft
New Member
My water is better than your water! 
MitchSchaft
New Member
Your drinking water is unacceptable!
MitchSchaft
New Member
I'm not gonna lose my water in space!
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