Departments
The Operations Division at the Poughkeepsie’s Water Treatment Facility is responsible for the safe and efficient production of quality potable water 24-hours per day, 7-days per week, 365-days per year. All Operators are certified by the State of New York.
Operator Duties
- Some of the specific duties of an Operator are:
- Proper dosing of chemicals
- Operation of pumps
- Monitoring the automated operation of the plant
- Doing laboratory analysis of water samples on a routine basis
Training & Quality
Our operators receive training in all aspects of treatment and treatment advances. They are prepared to address any operating difficulty from changing raw water characteristics to mechanical failure. Quality is first rate. In 2020 filter water quality was always less than 0.1 NTU although standard allows for 0.3 NTU.
Administrator Duties
The Water Plant Administrator is responsible for:
- Preparing reports
- Supervising employees
- Monitoring the day to day operation of the plant to ensure that a high quality water, meeting all standards is produced
The maintenance department is responsible for the maintenance, safety, and the security of the facility.
Staff
The department consists of 8 staff members, including:
- Supervisors
- Mechanics
- A truck driver
Duties
Maintenance workers are trained in all aspects of equipment installation, repair and preventative maintenance. From replacement of a 16-inch valve to installation of a new chemical process, whatever the task, big or small, our maintenance department can and will make it happen.
The Poughkeepsie Water Treatment Facility Laboratory is a New York State Department of Health certified laboratory. It is responsible for analyzing water samples for contaminants and biological organisms in the treatment process and within the distribution systems of the City and Town of Poughkeepsie. The department consists of a Laboratory Director and a Laboratory Technician.
Sampling
It is the laboratory’s responsibility to make sure all New York State and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sampling requirements are met. Samples are taken weekly throughout the distribution systems to monitor for:
- Chlorine residual
- Turbidity
- Orthophosphate
- Bacterial contamination
Testing
Testing within the treatment facility includes:
- Heterotrophic bacteria
- Alkalinity
- Total and dissolved organic carbon
- Hardness
- UV254
- Coliform enumeration
Annually, extensive chemical tests are performed on samples which are shipped to sub-contract laboratories with the appropriate instrumentation and certification.
Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer
Recently, the Poughkeepsie’s Joint Water Board with a monetary contribution from Central Hudson, purchased a Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer to enhance water quality monitoring of coal tar contaminants that may be released during dredging of the Hudson River. The dredging will occur just 3,000 feet south of the plant intake line.
A Perkin Elmer Clarus 690 Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS), along with Biotage’s VacMaster and TurboVap II extraction equipment were purchased. The equipment will provide the opportunity for the laboratory to perform more frequent testing during dredging periods of both the river water and treated drinking water with quicker results to help optimize treatment.