“Water is a precious resource that must be managed wisely to ensure a sustainable future.”
~ Achim Steiner
Project Overview
The City of Columbus currently owns and operates three water plants, collectively supplying an average of 149 million gallons per day of drinking water to Columbus, Dublin, and more than two dozen other central Ohio communities. The continued growth of population and industry in central Ohio, along with the need to increase reliability and resiliency across the water supply system, has driven the need for additional water capacity.
The design process for the Home Road Water Plant was initiated in winter 2023 by Columbus Water & Power (CWP) with the goal of bringing the new facility online by early 2032. The new Home Road Water Plant will be built on CWP-owned property along the Scioto River at the southeast corner of Home and Dublin roads in Delaware County.
Once operational, the Home Road Water Plant will have the capacity to provide water to the growing central Ohio population, which is expected to reach over three million by 2050. Incorporating cutting-edge, environmentally sustainable technology to efficiently provide clean, safe drinking water, the project marks the city’s first new water plant since the 1980s. The additional capacity provided when the new plant comes online will allow Columbus to easily accommodate growing demand beyond the current 149 MGD.
treatment processes And SITE LAYOUT
Preferred alternatives for the specific treatment processes were identified throughout the study phase and will be further evaluated during the design phase based on their effectiveness in meeting treatment objectives, capital and life cycle costs, operational needs, reliability, complexity, and environmental impacts. The process flow diagram below shows the anticipated key processes of the Home Road water plant.
Plant Map 2 There is a cemetery and a gazebo on the new water plant site; both are historic landmarks and will be protected throughout the site development and construction. Access to the cemetery will remain open throughout the project and after the plant’s completion. The exhibit below shows the current layout of the general water plant site.*
*Site layout is subject to change
Sustainability
Consistent with the Sustainable Columbus initiative, sustainability is fundamental in the planning, design and construction of the Home Road Water Plant. Design and construction of the new water plant will enhance and promote environmental stewardship through:
- Stream restoration and wetland preservation at various areas near the site
- Solar energy and electric vehicle charging stations
- Compliance with Columbus Stormwater Drainage Manual requirements
The city is pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and LEED Zero Energy certifications for the Administration Building, and is pursuing the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) Envision Framework certification for the overall project site design and construction.
Phasing
The Home Road Water Plant is planned to be constructed in two phases:
- Site preparation (underway now)
- Water plant facility
Schedule
