Our Expertise > Amity’s Comprehensive Water Treatment System Upgrades
Big Fixes for a Small Community’s Water System
Engineered for consistent, year‑round water quality—no matter river conditions.
The Challenge
When Keller joined the project, Amity’s raw water and treatment systems were nearing failure. Sand deposits constantly clogged the river intake and overloaded the pumping facility, and shifting river conditions made operations unpredictable. Poor finished water quality revealed deeper treatment issues. Operators were dealing with old equipment and processes that weren’t designed for the increasing turbidity, leading to inconsistent water production and very few options to keep things running. The City needed a full-system overhaul to continue providing safe drinking water.
The Solution
Keller designed $9.2 million in upgrades, covering everything from planning and permitting through construction support. Working closely with the operations team, Keller designed and supported the construction of a new surface water intake, improved distribution tank circulation, upgraded the filter media and underdrains, and installed a new SCADA system and generator. The project also included major pretreatment upgrades, including a plate settler system.
A new rectangular clearwell—built with interior concrete baffles—was designed to achieve a 0.8 baffle factor, maximizing contact time within the smallest possible footprint. This design delivered the required 0.5 log Giardia and 4.0 log virus removal set by the Oregon Health Authority. Even with nationwide equipment delays, the design stayed on schedule and within budget.
The Results
Now in commissioning, the upgraded system is ready to provide consistent, high‑quality drinking water to the City. When fully online this summer, Amity will have a modern facility built for long‑term control of its drinking water supply.