Making Your Water Safe to Drink
Posted 01/10/11, by Skagit PUD
Why do we treat your water? Water treatment is the process of cleaning water. Treatment makes the water safe for people to drink.
Because it is a good solvent, water picks up all sorts of natural pollutants. In nature, water is not always clean enough for people to drink.
How it works
Throughout the year, rainwater and melted snow are collected from streams in the area surrounding Judy Reservoir and from the Skagit River, and then stored in the reservoir for use by customers. The stored water is pumped to the water treatment plant where impurities are removed, thus ensuring that the water delivered to customers is clean and safe.
Chemicals are added to the water to remove particles and provide disinfection. The water is then gently mixed in two open basins that provide for the chemicals to react with the water. The water then passes through one of four filters. The filter media consists of a layer of sand and coal supported on gravel. Impurities are trapped in the filter and removed periodically by pumping water through the filter in the reverse direction. The filter wash water is temporarily stored in two lagoons before being returned to Judy Reservoir.
After filtration, the water is disinfected once again and then flows by gravity to two steel storage reservoirs, called clear wells, near the treatment plant. The clean water then flows into the distribution system and eventually arrives at your home safe to drink.