New Bloomsburg Water Plant Dedicated

Last Thursday, SUEZ dedicated its new advanced water treatment plant in Bloomsburg. The $32 million Irondale Water Treatment Plant utilizes modern technology to deliver high quality water. The location is out of the 100-year flood plain, in order to remain in service during high water events.

The membrane ultrafiltration is pictured beside high service pumps inside the new plant.  A SUEZ sister company based in the US designed the “SmartRack” technology on which the membranes are housed.  The new plant represents the first use of the new technology in North America.

The membranes filter the water after a process called superpulsation, which enhances sediment removal from the raw water.   Eric Gernath, Chief Executive Officer for SUEZ North America, noted that the new plant has been built at an elevation that will help avoid potential floodwaters that had previously interfered with operations at the now decommissioned, original treatment plant. Following the flooding in 2011, the Chamber encouraged SUEZ (then United Water) to take steps to avoid lengthy service interruptions and supported the investment in a new facility.