Iowa’s largest city marks the grand opening today of its first new water treatment facility in 80 years. Des Moines made national news seven years ago when its primary water plant was inundated by flood waters, cutting off the capitol city’s fresh water supply. Officials are confident that won’t happen again.Randy Beavers is assistant general manager of the Des Moines Water Works. The new facility is located at the Maffitt Reservoir in southwestern Polk County. Beavers says it will serve the Des Moines area, Polk County and five other central Iowa counties — Adair, Dallas, Guthrie, Madison and Warren.Beavers says water rates will -not- go up with the new plant’s opening as it’s being paid for by the many communities that will benefit from it.The new plant cost 25-million dollars and will be able to process 25-million gallons of water a day. Beavers says the new facility will be fully automated and can be remotely operated from the main water treatment plant in Des Moines.
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