City News & Updates

What Happened

On Monday, October 21, FVOP Operations and Resource Management (FVOP) staff began regular weekly cleaning of the North Water Plant’s two large sediment filters. FVOP is contracted to operate and maintain Huntington’s water treatment facilities. While the filters were in the standard weekly backwash cycle, the Filter Backwash Pump experienced an apparent electrical failure.

No other treatment processes were affected. FVOP staff reset the failed equipment and restored normal operation of the filters. City Utilities began to receive rusty water, odor and taste complaints late in the evening October 21, 2024, and early October 22, 2024.

What Was Done to Respond

City staff notified FVOP of customer complaints early on October 22, 2024, and FVOP staff began extensive additional testing of the treated water at the North Plant. Testing confirmed high iron levels in the finished water leaving the North Water Tower. Elevated iron levels in drinking water are not a health concern but can result in rusty (discolored) water, unusual odors and unusual water taste complaints. These types of complaints are typically associated with annual distribution system flushing events.

Distribution crews began flushing hydrants as needed throughout the City. They also closed a valve at Oak Street in an attempt to isolate the rusty water issues to the North Distribution System. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) was contacted and verified that additional sampling and a boil water advisory were not required. In an abundance of caution, FVOP staff collected a normal round of bacterial samples throughout the City for analysis. All sample results were reported as normal.

Industrial Control Services (ICS) was called to troubleshoot the electrical failure of the Backwash Pump early on October 22, 2024. ICS determined there was a mechanical failure with the pump. Peerless Midwest was then called in to diagnose the mechanical failure and was able to return the Backwash Pump to service that same date. FVOP staff then completed another backwash cycle of the North Plant filters without additional failures. Due to high iron water present in the North Water Tower, FVOP employees isolated and drained the North Water Tower to waste on October 22, 2024.

On Wednesday, October 23, the North Water Tower was completely drained and flushed. Repeated testing confirmed normal iron levels in treated water from the North Water Plant. The North Water Tower was put back online and refilled.

Distribution crews reopened the Oak Street valve on Thursday, October 24. Prior to opening this valve, the Distribution Crew began flushing hydrants upstream and downstream of it in an attempt to capture and flush any remaining pockets of rusty water from the North Distribution System. Unfortunately, new rusty water complaints were filed after the valve was opened; additional flushing activities were initiated to address these complaints. Continued testing at the North Water Plant and North Water Tower indicated no further filtration issues, and the plant and tower resumed normal operations.

What Will be Done to Avoid Repeat Occurrence

Piping and valve modifications are being evaluated that may allow a high-service pump at the North Water Plant to be used as a backup to the existing backwash pump. These modifications, if feasible, will provide redundancy for the existing backwash pump for service and emergency situations.