Due to its proximity to the Des Moines Metropolitan Area, Adel is experiencing significant residential and commercial growth. As a result, water demands upon the existing water source, treatment, and distribution system have increased and are nearing system capacity. In addition, much of the critical water infrastructure has exceeded its useful life.

The City’s existing water treatment plant consisted of pressure filtration and ion exchange softening. During peak summer demands, the plant could not keep up and the City would have to shut the softeners off and send out hard water into the distribution system.

McClure completed a study for a new water treatment plant that included evaluating Reverse Osmosis, Ion Exchange, and Lime Softening. Reverse Osmosis was ultimately chosen as the preferred alternative. Following completion of a successful pilot study in 2018, design commenced in early 2018 and was completed in 2019. Construction commended in 2019 and was complete in 2021.