In 2021, the Oakwood water plants reduced the hardness of the raw water by 59%. Through the ion exchange process, this 59% reduction in water hardness resulted in a 151% increase in sodium content. Both of these percentages are within normal operating ranges.

The eight production wells produced 500,856,000 gallons of water in 2021, which is an average of 1,372,000 gallons per day. In 2020, the eight production wells produced 506,086,000 gallons of water. This represents a 1.03 % decrease in raw water produced in 2021. The 2021 maximum day well production was on August 28 at 2,350,000 gallons. It is common that our highest usage occurs during the summer months when many property owners irrigate their lawns. The 2021 minimum day well production was on November 26 at 837,000 gallons. The minimum day production normally occurs in the fall or winter.

Out of the 500,856,000 gallons pumped in 2021, 33,257,000 gallons were used to either backwash the iron and manganese filters or regenerate the softening units at 210 Shafor and 120 Springhouse. This represents 6.64% of the total water pumped for the year, a 1.06% decrease from 2020. The primary flow meters were replaced in 2020 and accurately report plant production.

Chart 1 below and Chart 2 on the next page show the 2021 water table draw down compared to 2018, 2019 and 2020.