Water Utilities

The drinking water supply for the City of Ruston comes from the Sparta Aquifer. The Sparta Aquifer is a water-bearing sand that is ranges from approximately 500 feet to 700 feet below the clay and rock. The Sparta is the main source of water for north central Louisiana and southern Arkansas. To learn more about the Sparta Aquifer visit the Sparta Commission site at www.spartaaquifer.com.

The City uses nine water wells to pump water from the aquifer to its customers. These nine well are strategically located throughout the City, and each well pumps directly to the water distribution system. Since the Sparta provides us with an already pristine source of clean water, the City does not have to use a conventional water treatment plant for the purification process. The process that the City uses to prepare the water for delivery to the distribution system consists of a series of steps. First, the water is pumped from the Sparta and polymer is injected to help sequester the iron. This polymer is a phosphate that also acts as a corrosion inhibitor to help protect the distribution system. Next, chlorine is injected to disinfect the well water in case any contaminants are present. The dosages for the phosphate and chlorine, measured in parts per million (ppm), are determined by the amount of water each well produces. Chlorine levels are monitored each day to insure that proper levels of disinfectant are present for all wells that are in operation. Also, to insure that the water is safe for consumption, five samples are collected each day from various locations throughout the system to check for bacteria and chlorine residuals.

Each of the nine water wells pumps an average of 600 gallons per minute (gpm). Added together, we have the capacity to pump more than ten million gallons each day. However, on average we pump only four to five million gallons a day, and thus we are able to rotate the wells that we use for daily supply, and still have wells in reserve for high-use periods, or when we need to take one of the well out of service for maintenance or repairs. (Each year we schedule two of the nine wells to be completely removed from their settings, inspected, rehabilitated as necessary, and returned to service.) Within the past five years all nine water wells have been taken out of service, inspected, rehabilitated, and converted from oil lubrication systems to water lubrication systems.

We have three elevated water storage tanks to help maintain system pressure and fire protection. Tank No. 2 (located on Hwy 167 N. by the fire station) and No. 3 (located on Jena St. at I-20) work together and remain on-line in the system 24 hours a day. They are the same elevation, and serve to maintain system pressure when water wells cycle on and off. As the water level fluctuates in the tanks, pressure sensors send signals that tell certain wells to cycle on or off, depending on the water level in the tank. Four of the nine water wells are automated. Tank No. 1 (located on Memorial Dr. at Georgia St.) is at a higher elevation and is normally valved off for use in high demand situations or for fire protection. Tank No. 3 was taken out of service in 2003 to be painted and reconditioned after 15 years of service, and Tank No. 2 was reconditioned and repainted in 2005. Each time the process took about 6 months to complete. Our total system storage capacity is currently at 2 million gallons, but we are in the process of designing a new elevated tank to replace Tank No. 1, and once this tank is constructed our capacity will be at 3.5 million gallons.