Divers will make their way through the Tarentum water treatment plant in the coming weeks, vacuuming sediment and other debris from well walls and floors.
Crews will inspect for algae and corrosion in the clear well, which is part of the drinking water purification system.
“It’s a small chamber, and the only way to clean and inspect it is with a diver,” Borough Manager Dwight Boddorf told council during its meeting Tuesday.
“They have to get down there with their scuba gear and flashlights.”
The borough’s water treatment plant is audited every three years by the Department of Environmental Protection to make sure it meets quality standards.
Belle Vernon-based Three Rivers Diving will perform the work. Council approved spending up to $6,000 for one day in the water.
Bob Brown, owner of the diving company, said his crew will check for cracks or leaks, search for algae and make sure the drainage is efficient.
“We’re looking for any type of sediment and mapping it out to make sure everything looks good,” Brown said.
Divers wear cameras on their head gear to photograph conditions in the 8-foot well.
“All our equipment has never been anywhere but potable water, and it gets sprayed down with bleach cleaner after each dive,” Brown said.
Boddorf said the vacuum systems are designed to filter the water and prevent any contaminants from being released back into the clean water.
For areas with algae growth, divers use soft-bristled brushes or other nonabrasive tools to scrub the surfaces without damaging them.
“After the physical cleaning, the clear well may be disinfected using chlorine or other disinfectants to kill any remaining bacteria or microorganisms,” Boddorf said.
Water samples will be tested once the cleaning is complete to make sure they meet safety standards.
Three Rivers Diving is DEP- authorized. The commercial diving team has been in business for more than three decades and serves Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.
Brown said projects include all facets of underwater work. Crews have performed salvage, emergency patches, foul removal and raised sunken barges.
At the same meeting, council approved a $920,000 grant application through the state’s Community Project Funding program. If approved, money would be used to upgrade pipes at the water plant, many of which are nearly 100 years old.
A 2023 DEP report said the borough’s water system requires about $15 million in work.
