Built in 1980, Blackman Water Treatment Plant (BWTP) serves the city of Springfield, Missouri, with a service area population of 229,000. BWTP is currently completing filter upgrades to treat 52.5 million gallons per day (MGD). The facility uses conventional treatment methods including coagulation, flocculation, clarification, filtration, and disinfection. They also use additional seasonal chemical treatments for taste and odor control.

BWTP had been using chlorine gas for water disinfection since its construction in 1980. CU had been looking at alternative disinfection options for several years and the decision to change their disinfection technology from chlorine gas was driven by public safety concerns due to increased local population and increasing regulatory requirements. Springfield’s community has developed, and the population has increased over the last three decades, with more homes, schools, a large business complex, and most recently, a city park and recreational center adjacent to the water plant.