Date
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Time
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Location Name
Ballroom A
Name
Optimizing Aquifer Production: Insights from Louisville's RBF System and Its Maintenance
Track
Rehabilitation - DW
Description
Louisville Water operates two large water treatment plants; the Crescent Hill Filter Plant (CHFP) and the B.E. Payne Water Treatment Plant (BEPWTP), which together produce an average of 131 MGD of drinking water. The BEPWTP, with a current treatment capacity of 60 MGD, utilizes a Riverbank Filtration (RBF) system that leverages the alluvial aquifer adjacent to the Ohio River. Operational since 1999, this system enhances water supply by utilizing the natural filtration properties of the riverbank, providing a sustainable and high-quality water source. Louisville Water is currently undertaking a comprehensive inspection and rehabilitation project of the four collector wells that feed the RBF tunnel system and the original stand-alone radial collector well. This project includes pre-rehabilitation inspections using submersible cameras, and performance of pre- and post-rehabilitation constant rate flow tests to establish baseline flow rates. The pre- and post-rehabilitation flow tests will be used to determine the effectiveness of the well rehabilitations. Once baseline flow rates are established, these will be compared to the calculated mechanical capacity of the wells and used to determine the safe yield of the aquifer via the collector well/RBF system. Additionally, velocities will be measured in the vertical drop shafts of the four wells connected to the tunnel to assist in modeling and managing differential production from wells along the axis of the project. This presentation will delve into the comprehensive methodologies employed during the inspection and rehabilitation of the four collector wells feeding the RBF tunnel system and the demonstration well. Key topics include the use of submersible cameras for pre-rehabilitation inspections, the installation of isolation valves on the radials, and the execution of pre- and post-rehabilitation constant rate flow tests to establish baseline flow rates. We will discuss the effectiveness of the rehabilitation interventions, which involve high-pressure water jetting and percussive gas-driven tools to clean and restore well screens, followed by post-rehabilitation inspections and performance testing. We will also present the challenges of understanding and managing differential production along the axis of the project using a tunnel/header conveyance to a single wet well. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges encountered and solutions implemented during the project, as well as the impact of these efforts on the overall performance of the RBF system. This case study will highlight innovative water-supply solutions and best practices for maintaining and optimizing groundwater collection systems, ensuring a reliable and high-quality water supply.