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Our water’s source

The City of Fairfield obtains water from the Great Miami Buried Valley Aquifer, a sand and gravel aquifer formed by glaciers more than 10,000 years ago and extending from the Ohio River to Indian Lake, north of Dayton.

The city uses six wells, each 175 feet and producing 1,750 gallons per minute. In 2006, the Water Division processed and distributed an average of 5.1 million gallons of water each day, a 1.5 percent increase over the previous year.

To ensure water quality and source water protection, the aquifer is monitored by the Hamilton to New Baltimore Groundwater Consortium.

A wellhead protection program was developed in conjunction with the City of Hamilton, the City of Cincinnati and other local water producers to further safeguard the Great Miami Valley Aquifer.

Water quality

Drinking water, including bottled water, may contain at least small mounts of some contaminants.  This occurs as water travels over or through the ground, dissolving minerals and substances from animal or human activity.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations, which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.

Fairfield’s annual Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report lists the amount of contaminants found in Fairfield’s water.

Treating the water

Water in the treatment plant flows through aerators to remove carbon dioxide and then through clarifiers where hardness elements, such as calcium, magnesium and iron salts are removed.

Carbon dioxide is then added back to the softened water to lower the pH and stabilize the water, and the water is filtered through sand filters to remove any residual solids.

Chlorine is added per regulations by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Fluoride is then added, per requirements of the state health department to help prevent tooth decay.

The water is stored in a 750,000 gallon clear well before being pumped to the City's Distribution System.

Water travels through a network of water mains and service lines throughout the City, including nearly 175 miles of water pipe, 2,288 fire hydrants and 2,394 main valves. Three booster stations are used to help move water throughout the City.

The City's water storage capacity is 7 million gallons of water:

• 1.5 million gallons at Winton Road
• 3 million gallons at Hunter Road
• .5 million gallons at Mack Road
• 2 million gallons in two tanks at Seward Road