Temporary water treatment facility one of Kansas’ largest

  • A series of ponds were used to treat water which was then put through a covered filtration system, at left, to clean oil-impacted water that was removed from Mill Creek. The water was eventually returned to Mill Creek at a level of cleanliness that surpassed its pre-spill quality. Aerial photo provided
    A series of ponds were used to treat water which was then put through a covered filtration system, at left, to clean oil-impacted water that was removed from Mill Creek. The water was eventually returned to Mill Creek at a level of cleanliness that surpassed its pre-spill quality. Aerial photo provided
  • Five pipelines were used to deliver water overland for about a mile, from an upstream location to a downstream bend in the creek. The lines cross a field that was still planted to crops.
    Five pipelines were used to deliver water overland for about a mile, from an upstream location to a downstream bend in the creek. The lines cross a field that was still planted to crops.
  • Five pumps removed water from a point upstream from the containment area of Mill Creek and diverted the water overland to a point downstream from the impacted portion of the creek. One pump was capable of keeping Mill Creek dewatered for cleanup operations, but five were in place in case of a heavy rain event.
    Five pumps removed water from a point upstream from the containment area of Mill Creek and diverted the water overland to a point downstream from the impacted portion of the creek. One pump was capable of keeping Mill Creek dewatered for cleanup operations, but five were in place in case of a heavy rain event.
  • The filtration system was covered by a temporary structure to keep the water from freezing during the winter as it cleaned the creek water. The water treatment plant was the seventh largest in Kansas while in operation. Photos by DAN THALMANN / WCN
    The filtration system was covered by a temporary structure to keep the water from freezing during the winter as it cleaned the creek water. The water treatment plant was the seventh largest in Kansas while in operation. Photos by DAN THALMANN / WCN
A water treatment facility that would temporarily become the seventh largest in Kansas was built on site to treat water from the creek. The operation could treat 3,600 gallons of water per minute and put treated water back into the creek that exceeded the obligated water quality criteria. After the initial effort of removing bulk crude from the surface of the creek was completed, one of the…

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