RO Plant Update: Expect Soft Water Back Around August

Sick of Western Springs' mineral-rich water of late yet? Take heart: the ordeal will likely have passed by the end of the summer, but not until then.

The reverse-osmosis plant construction continues as workers are running internal plumbing, conduits and gas lines in preparation for the coming activation of new equipment.

But the next major step—bringing the Amiad iron filters online—can't happen until ComEd finishes the process of installing a new transformer in Field Park to power the equipment, which will take most of June and July.

at the Village Board of Trustees stalled the installation slightly, adding a bit of extra delay to the time of unsoftened water—but not to the overall project, estimated Director of Municipal Services Matt Supert.

“It’s slowed down some of the intermediate milestones we have, but the overall milestone we’re still looking pretty good on," Supert said. "We’re still looking at the late fall [for completion.]"

The transformer has yet to arrive. It should come by mid-June, and be active by mid-July.

In the meantime, the actual reverse-osmosis equipment and its skids are scheduled to arrive and be airlifted into the building via crane sometime in June.