Delivering High-Quality and Reliable Water for Decades to Come

The historic Ashtabula Water Treatment Plant — owned and operated by Aqua Ohio — has delivered high-quality, reliable drinking water to the City of Ashtabula since 1887. The 10 million gallons per day facility has been rebuilt and expanded several times over the past 100-plus years. Still, some of the core process infrastructure had reached the end of its useful life, resulting in deteriorating conditions and operational issues. The facility also had limited operational flexibility and lacked automation.

The $14 million Ashtabula WTP Reconstruction project upgraded the facility’s filtration process with new equipment and a fully integrated automation/control system. Most notably, it also included the construction of a new flocculation-sedimentation building with state-of-the-art inclined plate settlers, first in Ohio, further improving the water quality of an already high-performing WTP and positioning the facility to meet future needs.

The project team encountered significant challenges, including a global pandemic and a very tight timeline. A progressive design-build contract structure facilitated effective collaboration between the owner, designer and contractor. Together, they worked through these challenges by adapting to change, and through regular and open communication. The project was delivered on schedule — conceptual design fully commissioned in only 19 months — and on budget. With modern technology and automation, the Ashtabula WTP will continue to deliver high-quality, reliable water for decades to come.