Canal Winchester Messenger - March 21st, 2021

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March 21, 2021 - MESSENGER - PAGE 7
Generator gives Canal Winchester peace of mind
By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
Severe winter weather wreaked havoc in
Texas with power down for days, but installation
of a new backup generator for Canal
Winchester’s water reclamation department–with
the capability to run continuously
four times as long as the previous
system–should be able to handle a similar
emergency with ease.
“The new generator is appropriately sized
for the current needs as well as future expansions,
meets current pollution standards, and
will serve the community well for the next 30
years,” said Steve Smith, Canal Winchester
water reclamation superintendent. “The cost
of the project is a bit over $400,000 and it
should be christened sometime in March. We
are very near completion of the replacement
of the plant’s backup generator. The original,
installed in the latter half of the 1980s has
reached the end of its service life.”
When water reclamation underwent a
2017 upgrade, the existing generator was
discovered to be undersized to provide
power to each of the processes in place.
Smith said the department only ran critical
equipment while under a power fail scenario
to get by until an upgrade could take place.
The city received a grant for $50,000 to
apply toward the purchase/installation of
the new generator.
“Planning took place in early 2020 and installation
began in November of that same
year,” said Smith. “The process has been
held up several months due to the pandemic.
The installation has been proceeding well,
with local electrical contractor Abbott Electric
performing the service. We expect the
generator to be in place and operating the
first week of April 2021. Until that point, the
existing generator is at the ready. There will
not be a rate increase for our residents and
customers due to this installation.”
According to Smith, the new 2,000-gallon
generator will provide emergency power for
the entire plant and any planned expansions
for the next 20 years.
“It might be worth letting folks know
that all our critical city infrastructure has
backup generation, including the water
plant and its wells,” he said. “Had Texas facilities
had them, they could have left the
grid to conserve power for the other users
while maintaining service.”
The water treatment plant has generators
for the plant and for its wells. City hall has a
generator and the public service garage at
400 Ashbrook has its own generator. All essential
city services have stand-by power and
each is serviced twice a year by a contractor.
There are also portable pumps and generators
for various sewage pump stations
throughout the city to provide uninterrupted
service to those areas as well.
“Power outages have occurred many
more times than one would think,” said
Smith. “Radical weather events–high
winds and tornados–are the primary cause,
but we have had extended outages due to
Messenger photo by Linda Dillman
Canal Winchester water reclamation
employee Bryce Palsgrove checks out
the new emergency backup generator.
squirrels shorting power lines, cars hitting
power poles, transformers exploding and a
variety of other causes. Incident numbers
are in the many dozens the last 10 years.
Keeping the pumps running and basements
dry is the primary concern, but ensuring adequate
air and pumping for plant treatment
processes runs a close second.”
When there is a loss in the power line,
automated detectors start the generator and
transfer the generator power into service in
under one minute. The outage is seamless
for plant controls and processes. Once the
power is restored, the system reverts to normal
and the generator goes back to dormant
status following a cooling off period.
The replacement generator is a new,
clean technology diesel powered unit with
an engine of more than 1300 HP and enough
fuel to run over 24 hours continuously, during
which time workers can refuel it and
run it perpetually if need be for an extended
outage. The system is designed to sense adequate
line power for a small period of time
once line power is restored, before taking
the generator out of service. This process
helps the power company as they restore
power, keeping demand lower and the line
surge lessened when the power is back on.
“Recent events in the south have highlighted
the importance of having backup
power in place,” said Smith. “Failure to have
backup systems in place for us would be
calamitous, causing, among other things,
basements flooded with sewage, and damage
to waterways from untreated sewage.
Canal Winchester has invested heavily in
generators and pumps that allow quick action,
allowing for uninterrupted service to
our residents and protection of our environment.
Our hearts go out to all our fellow citizens
who are experiencing or did
experience disasters in the southern states.
We want Canal Winchester residents to
know emergency protocols are in place to
deal with power outages and other disaster
scenarios, and that having these protocols
and equipment at the ready is a primary
concern for city leaders to protect the health
and property of our residents.”
Moses-Mouser Eye Care
Dr. Joshua Morris is an Optometrist who grew
up in Bellville, Ohio. He completed his undergraduate
degree at the University of Akron, where
he graduated magna cum laude with honors.
Dr. Morris attended The Ohio State University
College of Optometry and graduated cum laude
with honors to receive his Doctor of Optometry Degree in May 2019. After
completing his studies, he was awarded the “Primary Vision Care Clinical
Excellence Award”, in 2019.
Dr. Morris is a member of the American Optometric Association, the Ohio
Optometric Association, and The Ohio State Alumni Association. He is
excited to practice full scope optometry, diagnosing and treating a variety
of ocular disorders and diseases in patients of all ages, but has a special
interest in contact lenses and ocular disease.
On a personal note, Dr. Morris and his wife Tess, enjoy spending time with
their family, friends, and their Bernese Mountain dog Maverick, cheering
on The Ohio State Buckeyes, trying new foods, and exploring Columbus
breweries.
Q: What are floaters and what causes them?
A: Floaters are small dark shapes that move across your vision. They can appear
as dots, threads, squiggly lines, or even like cobwebs. Most floaters are caused
by normal changes in the eye. As you age, small strands of vitreous (gel-like fluid
that fills your eye) can clump together and cast a shadow on your retina (the
light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye). Those shadows appear as floaters
that drift across your vision. You may notice floaters more when you look at a
bright background, like a computer screen or a blue sky.
Q: How often should someone with new
floaters get an eye exam?
A: Someone experiencing new floaters, a large increase in the number of floaters,
or flashing lights should see an eye care professional immediately. Sometimes
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Someone with a few stable floaters should see an eye care professional at least
once a year for a comprehensive dilated eye exam.
Schedule your comprehensive eye exam
today with Dr. Morris
6441 Winchester Blvd. E., Canal Winchester, OH 43110 614-963-3827