What treatment does Wellesleys drinking water receive?
Wellesley treats water from town wells by filtration, aeration, and disinfection. The filtration process includes the chemical addition of chlorine, permanganate, and hydroxide to condition the water for the removal of iron and manganese minerals. The water is then filtered, under pressure, through a bed of anthracite coal, green sand, and garnet sand. After filtration, the water is sent into a tray aerator, where it cascades through a series of redwood slatted trays against a counter current of air. The aeration process is primarily designed to reduce acidity. After aeration, the water is treated with chlorine and passed through a long clearwell channel to insure stabilized disinfection. It is then pumped into the 149 miles of distribution mains that supply the households and businesses of Wellesley. Fluoride is also added to the water.
