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From YouTube: This Week in Ames
Description
The new Water Treatment Plant construction has begun, Kris Evans stops by studio 16 to tell us where we're at in the project.
A
A
My
guest
today
is
Chris
Evans,
an
environmental
engineer
with
Ames
water
and
pollution
control.
Chris
welcome
to
the
show
thanks,
Susan.
Well,
it's
been
a
while,
since
we've
seen
you
and
I
know,
you've
been
very,
very
busy.
First
tell
me
a
little
bit
about
your
job
as
an
environmental
engineer.
Sure.
B
As
an
environmental
engineer
for
the
water
and
Pollution
Control
Department,
it's
my
job
to
help
out
the
department
by
managing
our
capital
improvements
projects
and
any
other
project
that
goes
on
at
either
the
water
treatment
plant
or
the
wastewater
plant.
That
goes
from
working
with
external
consultants,
who
are
doing
design
work
for
us
or
preparing
reports
to
doing
some
reports
and
design
work
in-house,
and
so
we
have
that
ability
to
be
able
to
troubleshoot
we've
got
the
ability
to
create
designs
and
put
them
out
for
bid.
It's
a
pretty
interesting
job.
A
B
It
absolutely
is
and
a
lot
of
times
we
rely
on
the
companies
to
provide
its
information
and
the
documentation
and
it's
our
job
to
review
and
make
sure
it
seems
thorough,
it's
complete
and
that
they've
done
their
work.
So
I,
don't
necessarily
have
to
be
an
expert
in
everything
but
you're
right.
Looking
at
those
details,
making
sure
everything's
been
covered
and
looked
into
is
important
part
of
the
job.
A
B
Are
looking
at
a
move?
We've
been,
the
water
plant
itself
has
been
there
since
1927,
and
we
are
currently
in
the
process
of
building
a
new
drinking
water
treatment
plant
and
with
that
the
administration
group,
which
is
the
engineers
the
director
of
the
assistant
director,
will
be
moving
with
the
plant.
B
It's
the
former
USDA
research
site.
We
were
able
to
obtain
the
property
made
for
a
great
location.
It
was
already
government
property,
so
we
didn't
take
anything
out
of
the
tax
base
and
it's
close
enough
to
the
existing
facility.
The
existing
treatment
plant
that
we're
able
to
reuse
some
of
the
infrastructure
made
it
a
great
location
for
us.
It.
B
We
are
building
on
the
north
part
of
the
property,
so
we're
staying
away
from
the
very
wooded
area
on
the
back
side.
But
we
are
set
back
off
the
road
just
to
preserve
that
natural
environment.
We're
going
to
be
putting
in
some
Gardens
some
some
natural
systems
for
stormwater
management,
and
so
there
will
be
green
area
in
front
of
the
plant
and
you'll
likely
see
some
of
the
building
from
13th
street.
But
we're
hoping
to
have
it
be
a
more
natural
looking
site.
Absolutely.
A
B
It
will
mean
a
brand-new
state-of-the-art,
we're
hoping
to
get
leed-certified
treatment
facility
we're
going
to
stick
with
the
same
type
of
treatment.
So
we
really
hope
that
our
residents
and
aims
don't
see
a
difference
in
their
their
tap
water.
That
they'll
still
see
the
same
high
quality,
great
tasting
water.
That
kind.
A
B
Absolutely-
and
that
was
a
really
important
factor
when
we
were
going
into
design
of
the
new
plant.
Is
we
didn't
want
to
change
treatment
technology
because
that
would
likely
affect
the
taste
and
what
we're
used
to
so
we
stuck
with
the
same
type
of
treatment,
we're
going
to
be
a
lime
softening
facility,
just
like
we
currently
are,
and
it's
just
a
little
bit
more
modern
facility.
It's
it's
got
some
more
automation
than
we
have
now.
It's
going
to
have
more
capacity,
so
we'll
be
able
to
accommodate
growth
in
the
community.
So.
A
Interesting,
the
existing
water
treatment
plant-
you
can
just
tell
that
it
was
sort
of
built-in
in
sections
and
things
aren't
quite
an
alignment,
obviously
not
handicapped
accessible.
There
are
some
kind
of
antiquated
processes
in
there.
All
that
will
be
the
use
of
technology
modernised,
become
more
efficient,
it'll
really
be
an
interesting
process
to
watch
that
happen.
It.
B
Will
be
great
so
the
current
facility,
just
like
you,
said
it
started
with
the
treatment
facility
in
the
center
and
about
every
decade
decade
and
a
half
added
on
components,
and
so
it
is
kind
of
a
conglomerated
mess.
The
new
treatment
plant
will
have
the
water
move
in
pretty
much
a
straight
line.
It
will
flow
through
the
plant
and
it
will
be
all
one
level
it'll
be
easily
accessible.
We've
also
got
the
ability,
we've
kept
in
mind
how
we
would
want
to
expand
it
in
the
future.
B
Around
11
million
gallons
per
day-
and
that
would
be
where
we
would
see
something
like
that
in
the
summer
when
it's
warm
people
are
using
a
lot
of
water,
irrigating
watering
their
lawns
things
like
that.
We've
had
some
really
dry
summer.
We
have.
We
have
right
now,
I,
think
the
peak
of
record
is
around
nine
million
gallons
a
day,
so
we
haven't
quite
reached
that
capacity,
but
you
never
want
to
be
at
capacity
and
then
start
your
design
process.
This
process
has
taken
us.
B
This
process
has
taken
us
about
seven
years
to
get
to
this
point,
where
we're
actually
starting
to
build
the
treatment
plan
and
the
capacity
of
the
new
plant
will
be.
The
capacity
of
the
new
plant
will
be
15
million
gallons
per
day,
and
we've
got
plans
at
least
an
idea
of
how
we
would
expand
to
20
and
then
to
25.
A
A
B
Absolutely
so
the
water
pollution
control
facility
was
brought
on
line
in
1989,
and
so
it's
just
starting
to
reach
the
end
of
its
useful
life
of
a
lot
of
equipment.
A
lot
of
things
just
need
to
be
improved.
We
did
build
the
new
disinfection
facility
that
was
finished
last
summer
and
right
now,
we've
got
a
lot
of
rehab
projects
going
on,
so
we're
making
improvements
to
our
digesters,
which
is
part
of
the
treatment
process
they're
putting
in
new
mixing
systems
hoping
to
make
them
a
little
more
efficient.
B
Our
treatment
plant,
like
you
mentioned,
is
right
there
on
5th
Street
near
the
power
plant
and
bandshell
part
will
be
moving
to
13
and
we
will
be
moving
to
13th
street,
but
our
water
pollution
control
facility
is
outside
the
city
limits
about
5
miles
southeast
of
town.
You
can
see
it
just
barely
if
you
know
what
you're
looking
for
off
of
I-35
well,.
A
B
Conservation
is
really
important.
We
understand
that
we
all
like
our
lawns.
We
like
our
flowers,
but
it's
more
about
using
your
water
wisely.
If
you
do
want
to
irrigate,
your
lawn
only
needs
a
small
amount
of
water
per
week.
You
don't
have
to
water
it
every
day.
We
also
don't
need
that
lush
green.
It
is
okay
for
your
lawn
to
go
dormant
and
brown.
B
It
will
come
back
as
far
as
plants
if
you're
watering
them
it's
best
to
water
in
the
evening
or
early
morning,
so
you're
not
getting
the
heat
of
the
day,
and
when
you
do
water,
if
you
want
to
use
a
watering,
can
that
you're
collecting
from
you're
using
water
from
say
rain
barrel?
That's
great!
If
you
are
using
your
hose
just
make
sure
the
water
is
getting
on
the
ground.
It's
not
hitting
sidewalks,
it's
not
hitting
driveways
and
getting
into
our
storm
sewers
that
just
isn't
doing
anyone
any
you.
B
A
B
B
And
we
use
it
a
lot
actually,
my
five-year-old
likes
to
water
with
it.
So
that's
a
good
source
for
him,
but
yeah.
We
have
the
same
thing.
We
have
to
rain
barrels.
We
actually
have
one
rain
barrel
that
is
connected
to
a
drip
irrigation
hose
and
so,
as
it
fills
up
it
slowly
then
just
goes
out
into
our
flower
bed,
so
sort
of
brings.
B
Some
of
the
best
things
you
can
do
our
run
full
loads
of
dishes
in
your
dishwasher,
full
loads,
laundry,
simple
things
like
turning
off
the
tap
when
you
brush
your
teeth,
watching
those
drips
exactly
checking
for
leaks,
making,
sure
your
toilet
isn't
slowly
leaking.
We
have
died
tabs
available
at
the
water
plant.
It's.
A
B
A
B
Got
lots
of
things
that
are
going
to
happen
most
of
the
winter
was
spent
putting
in
pipe
underground.
So
there
wasn't
a
lot
to
see,
but
as
residents
drive
by
now,
there's
a
lot
of
dirt
being
moved,
we
were
building
up
some
work,
doing
some
work
in
the
line
ponds
hauling
some
dirt
over
there
there's
a
lime,
sludge
building
that
they've
poured
the
foundation
they're
starting
to
work
on
walls.
B
It's
set
back
on
the
site,
but
I
would
bet
that
residents
might
be
able
to
see
that
the
big,
exciting
thing
is
they're
going
to
be
moving
a
tower
crane
out
on
site.
So
there
will
be
a
large
crane
towards
the
towards
13th
Street
people
will
start
to
see
as
they
start
to
work
on
the
main
treatment.
Building.
They've
got
some
of
the
basins
excavated,
so
there's
big
holes
in
the
ground
and
I
would
say
by
summer.
People
are
going
to
start
to
see
an
actual
structure.
That's.
A
Directed
very
exciting
Chris
I
know
you're
busy,
but
thank
you
for
stopping
by
thanks
for
having
me
Susan
yeah,
just
some
events
for
your
calendar.
If
you're
looking
for
things
to
do,
remember
that
may
11th
is
started
bike
to
work
week.
City
Hall
will
be
the
site
of
a
bike
to
work
week.
Breakfast
Monday
May,
eleventh
from
7am
to
9am
step
by
and
get
your
breakfast
also
remember.
If
you're
planning
to
go
to
Furman
aquatic
center
this
summer,
those
discounts
on
the
furman
Aquatic
Center
summer
passes
will
go
away
on
May
sixteenth.