At ATEC Water Systems, we are committed to delivering innovative water treatment solutions that empower communities to access safe, clean water. Our recent installation at the Taggart Well in Meridian, Idaho, exemplifies this mission.
Veolia North America, a subsidiary of the Veolia Group, operates water services for over 240,000 people in Idaho, managing 81 wells and two treatment plants, including those under Treasure Valley Water.
Partnering with Veolia North America and working alongside Treasure Valley Water, ATEC deployed advanced iron and manganese removal systems to address critical water quality challenges.
This project, detailed in Veolia’s project summary, showcases how ATEC’s expertise and technology have transformed groundwater for a growing community. Below, we explore the problem, our solution, and the lasting impact on Meridian.
The Challenge: Iron and Manganese in Meridian’s Groundwater
Meridian, a rapidly expanding city in Idaho’s Treasure Valley, relies heavily on groundwater from wells like Taggart to meet its drinking water needs. However, the Taggart Well faced a persistent issue: elevated levels of iron and manganese. These naturally occurring minerals, while not always harmful at low concentrations, posed significant problems when present in excess. Iron levels in the well’s raw water reached 1.2 mg/L—four times the U.S. EPA’s secondary standard of 0.3 mg/L—while manganese hit 0.15 mg/L, three times the EPA’s 0.05 mg/L guideline.
High iron and manganese concentrations caused aesthetic and operational issues. Residents noticed reddish-brown staining on fixtures, laundry, and appliances due to iron oxidation. Manganese, meanwhile, left blackish deposits and contributed to a metallic taste, eroding public trust in the water supply. For Treasure Valley Water, these contaminants also clogged distribution systems, increased maintenance costs, and risked non-compliance with EPA recommendations. With Meridian’s population growing, the utility needed a reliable, high-capacity solution to restore water quality and support future demand.
The challenge was clear: remove iron and manganese effectively while maintaining cost-efficiency and scalability. Treasure Valley Water turned to Veolia, a global leader in water management, to oversee the project. Veolia, in turn, selected ATEC Water Systems for our proven track record in groundwater treatment, setting the stage for a collaborative effort to solve Meridian’s water woes.
ATEC’s Solution: Advanced Iron and Manganese Removal
ATEC Water Systems brought over three decades of expertise to the Taggart Well project, leveraging our advanced filtration technologies to address iron and manganese contamination. Since our founding in 1992, we have specialized in designing systems that are both highly effective and tailored to local conditions. For Taggart Well, we deployed our proprietary biological and chemical filtration process, optimized for high-rate contaminant removal and operational simplicity.
System Design and Installation
The Taggart Well system consists of two 48-inch diameter filtration vessels, each engineered to handle a flow rate of 1,400 gallons per minute (gpm). This high-capacity design ensures the well can serve Meridian’s current population while accommodating future growth. The filtration process begins with pre-treatment, where raw water is conditioned to optimize contaminant removal. The water then passes through specialized media beds that capture iron and manganese through a combination of oxidation, adsorption, and filtration.
Our system’sbiological component enhances efficiency by harnessing naturally occurring microorganisms to oxidize dissolved iron and manganese, converting them into insoluble forms that are easily filtered. This approach reduces the need for excessive chemical dosing, lowering operational costs and minimizing waste. The result is a robust, low-maintenance system that consistently reduces iron to below 0.3 mg/L and manganese to below 0.05 mg/L, meeting or exceeding EPA secondary standards.
Installation occurred in close coordination with Veolia, who provided engineering oversight and ensured seamless integration with Treasure Valley Water’s existing infrastructure. ATEC’s team worked on-site to assemble the vessels, calibrate the system, and train utility staff on operation and maintenance. The project was completed on schedule, with the system fully operational by late 2024, delivering immediate improvements in water quality.
Key Features of ATEC’s System
Our Taggart Well installation highlights several advantages of ATEC’s technology:
- High Efficiency: Achieves >90% removal of iron and manganese, ensuring compliance with EPA guidelines.
- Scalability: Handles 1,400 gpm, with modular design for future expansion.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Minimizes chemical use and maintenance, reducing long-term costs.
- Sustainability: Biological filtration lowers environmental impact compared to chemical-heavy alternatives.
These features reflect ATEC’s commitment to delivering solutions that balance performance with practicality, a hallmark of our work across California, Idaho, and beyond.
Collaboration with Veolia and Treasure Valley Water
The success of the Taggart Well project stems from strong collaboration among ATEC, Veolia, and Treasure Valley Water. Veolia’s role as general contractor and engineering consultant was pivotal. Their team conducted detailed water quality assessments, confirming iron at 1.2 mg/L and manganese at 0.15 mg/L, and designed the project scope to meet Treasure Valley Water’s needs. Veolia selected ATEC for our ability to deliver high-performance systems under tight timelines, building on our prior partnerships in groundwater treatment projects.
Treasure Valley Water, the local utility, brought critical insights into Meridian’s water demands and infrastructure. Their goal was not only to address immediate contamination but also to ensure long-term reliability for a city projected to grow by 20% over the next decade. ATEC worked closely with both partners to customize the system, incorporating feedback on flow rates, maintenance schedules, and operator training. This collaborative approach ensured the system met technical specifications while aligning with the utility’s operational goals.
Impact on the Meridian Community
The Taggart Well installation has delivered measurable benefits to Meridian’s residents and businesses, transforming the quality and reliability of their water supply.
Improved Water Quality
Post-treatment testing confirms that ATEC’s system reduces iron to <0.1 mg/L and manganese to <0.02 mg/L—well below EPA secondary standards. These results have significantly improved the community’s experience: residents no longer see reddish-brown or black staining on fixtures and appliances, and the metallic taste has disappeared. Confidence in the water supply has been restored.
Beyond aesthetic improvements, the system also mitigates long-term distribution system risks. Left untreated, manganese can accumulate as scale inside water mains and household plumbing. This scale not only narrows pipe capacity but can also trap heavy metals like lead and arsenic. If disrupted—by pressure changes, construction, or aging infrastructure—these deposits can be released back into the water supply, posing potential health risks, as seen in high-profile incidents like Flint, Michigan.
By maintaining manganese concentrations well below threshold levels, ATEC’s system helps prevent the formation of such scale, contributing to safer infrastructure and protecting public health over the long term.
Operational Efficiency
For Treasure Valley Water, the system’s low-maintenance design has streamlined day-to-day operations. The biological filtration process requires minimal chemical inputs, reducing O&M costs by approximately 15% compared to traditional treatment methods. Automated backwashing and self-cleaning media beds lower labor demands, allowing staff to focus on other operational priorities.
A key advantage of ATEC’s system is the durability of the filter media, which typically lasts 20+ years. Unlike adsorptive media that requires periodic replacement, ATEC’s manganese-coated media is continuously regenerated in situ through routine chlorination. This eliminates the need for media change-outs during the system’s operational life—further reducing downtime, disposal costs, and long-term maintenance planning.
With a rated capacity of 1,400 gpm, the system also provides ample supply during peak demand periods, ensuring consistent performance as Meridian’s population continues to grow.
Community Trust and Sustainability
Clean water is the foundation of a thriving community. By resolving iron and manganese issues, ATEC has helped Treasure Valley Water strengthen public trust, critical in a region where water quality concerns can spark debate. The system’s sustainable design aligns with Idaho’s commitment to environmental stewardship, minimizing waste and energy use. As part of Cadiz, Inc., ATEC draws on a broader mission to advance water security, ensuring that projects like Taggart Well contribute to long-term resilience.
ATEC’s Legacy and Future Commitment
The Taggart Well project builds on ATEC’s 30-year legacy of innovation in water treatment. Since 1992, we have delivered solutions for contaminants like iron, manganese, PFAS, and hexavalent chromium, serving communities from California’s Central Valley to Idaho’s Treasure Valley. Our work is grounded in a deep understanding of groundwater challenges, honed through decades of engineering and field experience. As a subsidiary of Cadiz, Inc., we benefit from a shared vision of sustainable water management, evident in projects like the Mojave Groundwater Bank.
For Meridian, this installation is more than a technical achievement—it’s a commitment to the community’s health and prosperity. ATEC’s systems are designed to last, with durable components and modular scalability to meet future needs. We continue to support Treasure Valley Water through ongoing maintenance training and performance monitoring, ensuring the system delivers clean water for years to come.
Looking Ahead: ATEC’s Role in Water Solutions
The success at Taggart Well underscores ATEC’s ability to tackle complex water quality challenges with precision and care. We are proud to partner with industry leaders like Veolia and local utilities like Treasure Valley Water to make a tangible difference. As Meridian grows, ATEC stands ready to support additional projects, whether addressing ammonia, PFAS, or other contaminants. Our expertise, backed by Cadiz’s resources, positions us to lead the way in groundwater treatment across the U.S.
For communities facing similar challenges, ATEC offers a proven path forward. Our systems combine cutting-edge technology with practical design, delivering results that communities can see, taste, and trust. To learn more about our iron and manganese removal solutions. Together, we can ensure clean water for every community.
Are you a utility or industry leader grappling with iron, manganese, or other groundwater contaminants? ATEC Water Systems is here to help. Request a consultation today to explore how our tailored solutions can meet your needs. Call our Hollister office or email us to start the conversation. With ATEC, clean water is not just a goal—it’s a reality.
