Hudson City Council is considering the construction of a brine well to supply brine for the water treatment plant. The well would be located near the City’s water treatment plant. The City has secured the necessary permits from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio EPA, and Summit Soil and Water Conservation District to construct the well. The legislation will be on the February 19, 2019 Council Meeting agenda.
What is brine?
Brine is a water/salt mix used as a water softener to treat drinking water in Hudson’s Water Plant and is used to treat road surfaces in icy weather. With the rising costs of rock salt and the fluctuation in product availability, constructing a City-owned and operated brine well will help combat rising costs and ensure a supply needed for water treatment.
What is a brine well?
A brine well is a salt-solution well that provides a solution of water and salt (brine) by injecting clean water that is safe to drink into a subterranean salt deposit and pumping the solution back out of the well for use. No chemical additives are used, and hydraulic fracturing "fracking" is not used to drill the well or produce the salt.
Why is the City considering a brine well?
With a brine well, Hudson will be able to produce its own salt brine for use in the water plant’s water softening system for drinking water. This will reduce operating costs for the City and costs for trucking road salt to the water treatment plant. In the future, the City can use the brine solution to supplement their salt needs for snow and ice control. Current estimates show a five- to seven-year return on investment for this project.
Is a brine well safe?
A brine well does not involve fracking and is constructed in a way to ensure no contamination of groundwater occurs. It is not an oil and gas well. The salt layer is dissolved by using fresh water, with no chemical additives. Brine wells are regulated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources as Class III Salt-Solution Mining Injection Wells.
What does a brine well look like?
The well will sit above the ground typically 5-10 feet. All pipelines will be buried, and the other equipment, including the pump to operate the well, will be located inside the treatment plant. Once the well is drilled and in operation, there will be a portable building placed over the well head. There will be no noise, other than during the approximately 7 days it takes to drill the well.
Do other communities use brine wells?
Yes, communities have brine wells. For example, Cuyahoga Falls has been safely operating its brine well since 1967.
Where do I go for more information?
Visit the Brine Well webpage for more information on this project. Contact Kevin Powell, Assistant Public Works Director, at 330-342-1750 or Brad Kosco, City Engineer, at 330-342-1770 with questions.