Water plant clarifier failure threatens Cape's supply capacity causing concerns for summer months

Cape Girardeau’s water supply capacity could face a significant challenge following the mechanical failure of clarifier 1 at the Cape Rock Water Treatment Plant.

According to a Wednesday, Feb. 12, City of Cape Girardeau news release, the clarifier’s failure has reduced the city’s water production capacity, raising concerns about meeting the expected increased demand during the summer. With one of the clarifiers offline, the Cape Rock Water plant can produce only “4.95 million gallons of water per day”.

The release states the Ramsey Branch Water Treatment Plant adds 2 million gallons per day to the production and, with both combined, should be sufficient for water production in the short term. Assistant city manager Trevor Pulley told the Southeast Missourian the summer months could present a challenge to the city in terms of producing water.

“Everybody uses a lot more water on their lawns, on just a lot of different things,” Pulley said. “We have plans in order. We are working on it now to move forward, to get this thing fixed in a timely and effective manner.”

Pulley said the city has received estimates for $1 million and eight months to repair it. He said the city is bringing in a lot more engineering firms, construction firms and consultants to find the most timely and effective fix.

He said the parts for the clarifier aren’t just something you can buy from Home Depot or Menards, and the city is “actively” seeking out where to find them.

Pulley said the carbon steel shaft to the rake on the clarifier broke. He noted that building a fourth clarifier was a part of their water initiative and would provide more water, as well as solve "redundancies" for clarifiers one, two and three.

In November, a vote regarding a city water rate increase, to support improvements to the water treatment and distribution system, failed. Mayor Stacy Kinder was quoted in a November article that if water capacity issues continue, residents might see water conservation measures, starting with cutting back on irrigation at city properties.

Pulley also clarified that despite mechanical failure, the water is safe, and people do not have to conserve water.

He said addressing the mechanical failure is the top priority and the city will be updating residents and media as soon as more information is available regarding the status of the mechanical failure. The fund used to pay for the repair of clarifier 1 is not yet known to the Southeast Missourian.