Mid Ohio: East London water plant offline because of ammonia; RO retrofit expensive

Mid Ohio’s executive director told the council that the East London Water Treatment Plant is not currently operational because of ammonia contamination in the wells and that the plant’s existing ion-exchange configuration cannot remove the contaminant.

“We can't turn it online... The EPA wouldn't allow us to bring it online,” Daley said, describing the plant as effectively a sunk cost absent an affordable removal solution. He said reverse-osmosis technology can remove ammonia but would require tearing out existing equipment and installing new RO units, and that Mid Ohio has consultants evaluating options and costs.

Council members recalled earlier presentations and testing history that suggested the plant could be operable; Daley said those prior assessments and submissions were made to the Ohio EPA and that regulators ultimately determined the plant could not be returned to service in its prior configuration. Daley said the district will evaluate whether phased or side-stream fixes, or expanded production at Old Springfield, are a better regional solution than a full retrofit at East London.