OCTOBER MONTHLY MEETING
Join the SAME Charleston Post for our October Meeting, bringing together military, government, and industry engineering professionals for focused conversation and collaboration. This week we will hear from Charleston Water System and tour the Hanahan treatment plant, where all of our drinking water comes from!
Before arriving at your tap, water is treated at the Hanahan Water Treatment Plant to remove sediment, bacteria, and other impurities. Water from the Bushy Park Reservoir and the Edisto River flows through deep tunnels to our Hanahan Water Treatment Plant. Once it arrives at the plant, the pH is adjusted and water is rapidly mixed with aluminum sulfate (alum), a coagulant that helps the impurities stick together to form bigger particles called floc. After rapid mixing, the water flows into flocculation basins, where the flow of water is slowed and the floc has time to grow bigger. Next, the water flows into sedimentation basins, where the heavy floc particles sink to the bottom and are removed. Now the water travels through large filters made of sand, gravel, and anthracite. Filtration removes any remaining microscopic particles and microorganisms. Finally, the water is disinfected to protect it against bacteria. Chlorine dioxide and a combination of chlorine and ammonia called chloramines are used to disinfect the water. Fluoride is also added support good dental health. The clean water is then pumped into pipes that deliver it to homes and businesses across the greater Charleston area.
Presenter:
James Wilson, PE
James graduated from The Citadel with a BS in Civil Engineering in 2002. He was commissioned as an officer in the US Navy upon graduation and served 4 years before moving back to Charleston to begin his engineering career in 2006 at Seamon Whiteside & Associates as a Project Coordinator on primarily land development projects. James has worked as a Utility Relocation Manager with the Charleston County Half-Cent Sales Tax Program and has been with Charleston Water System for 12 years as an engineer in the capital improvement group and Plant Engineer at Hanahan Water Treatment Plant. James has over 20 years of engineering experience and is a licensed PE and Water Treatment Operator in South Carolina. In his free time James enjoys spending time with his family, usually watching his son and daughter compete in athletics.
Location:
1104 Hanahan Rd, Hanahan, SC 29410. Registrant’s name will be on the list provided to the team at the security kiosk, and we will be meeting at the administrative building within the Hanahan Water Treatment Plant (note that this is not at the customer service center on Murray Drive, but the entrance is right beside it). Parking is limited, so please carpool if possible!
Tentative Schedule:
11:30-12:30 – Presentation/lunch
12:30-1:30 Site Walk
What to bring/wear:
Wear long pants and closed-toed shoes or boots.