JWSC draws water from the Sandy Creek Arm of Lake Travis at a location which is ideal as it is in very deep water and the Sandy Creek Arm typically has lower suspended solids (aka. dirt) in the water than the main body of the lake. Sodium permanganate, a disinfectant, is added to the raw water before it reaches either treatment plant.
At the plants, coagulants are added to help settle out solids from the raw water before it is filtered. Chlorine is injected to this settled water to further disinfect it through the filters. The Horton Plant has four dual media (sand and anthracite) filters, while the Popham Plant has one tri-media (anthracite, sand and garnet) filter.
After filtration, liquid ammonia is added to the water in order to form monochloramines (chlorine combined with ammonia) through the clearwells of each plant and into the distribution system. Although not as strong a disinfectant as chlorine, monochloramine doesn’t decay as rapidly and also doesn’t react as readily with any residual organics while out in the distribution system. This lessens the formation of disinfection by-products which are currently regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency.
TRWA Best Tasting Water Award 2009 - 1st place Surface Water
TRWA Best Tasting Water Award 2006 - 1st place Surface Water - 2nd place OVERALL
TRWA Best Tasting Water Award 2005 - 1st place OVERALL
TRWA Best Tasting Water Award 2003 - 2nd place OVERALL - see below
TCEQ Outstanding Performance Award - see below
TCEQ Letter to Accompany Award - see below