TAMPA, Fla. — City leaders showed off new technology Monday aimed at reducing forever chemicals in the city’s drinking water. According to officials, Tampa is the first city in the country to use the technology.
What You Need To Know
- Tampa Water Department is exploring a pioneering approach that will put it ahead of the clean water curve
- Suspended Ion Exchange, or “SIX,” will help address Tampa’s water quality needs as well as position the Water Department to meet the EPA’s future drinking water regulations
- The David L. Tippin Water Treatment Facility monitors PFAs levels in its finished water as part of the EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule requirements
The new technology is referred to as “suspended ion exchange,” also known as SIX. It’s a $200 million system being installed at the Tippin Water Treatment Facility. Once complete, it’ll be the largest SIX in the world.
The technology is aimed at reducing PFAs (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in drinking water. PFAs are man-made chemicals that do not break down in the environment.
The EPA is preparing to release its regulations on these forever chemicals at the start of the new year.
Regina Gatewood is looking forward to having cleaner, safer water to drink. When exercising in the park, Gatewood avoids using the water fountain.
“Nope, I would not go to a water fountain like that,” she said. “The germs, that’s for one and the water that’s coming out of that faucet. They say it’s filtered on there, but there’s still contaminants in my water.”
The new SIX technology, according to city officials, is the first step in the city’s efforts to remove PFAs from the water and improve the quality in the process.
“The city of Tampa and the Tampa Water Department are committed to providing our residents with clean, safe drinking water,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said. “There are a limited number of technologies capable of minimizing PFAs levels in drinking water, making this technology a critical investment to improve the quality of our water for generations to come.”
The Tampa Water Department initially piloted this technology in 2020. The pilot program showed that SIX will provide additional benefits, including:
- Reducing the amount of chemicals needed to treat our drinking water, saving the department approximately $1.4 million each year.
- Improving the quality of our drinking water.
- Increasing operational safety at the David L. Tippin Water Treatment Plant.
The results of the pilot were so promising that the SIX pilot is now being tested at the Howard F. Curren Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. The technology is of interest to many other utilities in Florida and beyond, with seven utility tours scheduled for November and December.
"For us to be able to turn on our faucets here and to drink this water...it would be good for us in our system," Gatewood said. "I think it’s a good move."