Marcala Water Treatment Plant
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h1.Marcala Water Treatment Plant {float:right|border=2px solid black|width=300px} [!Marcala inauguration.JPG|width=300px!|Marcala photos] {float} |
July
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10,
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2008
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The
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12,000
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person
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town
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of
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Marcala,
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Honduras
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took
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possession
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of
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their
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newly
...
...
...
...
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from
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...
...
...
...
on
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July
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5,
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2008.
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The
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occasion,
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covered
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by
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live
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radio
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and
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television,
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was
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marked
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by
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a
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community
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celebration,
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dedication
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and
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ribbon
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cutting
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ceremony.
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The
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plant
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was
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redesigned
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by
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IRWA
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with
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support
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from
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Cornell
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University's
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AguaClara
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group
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and
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the
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engineering
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firm
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DeWild,
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Grant,
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Reckert
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&
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Associates
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of
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Rock
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Rapids,
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Iowa.
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The
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plant,
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formerly
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a
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failed
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upflow
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rock
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filtration
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plant,
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was
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redesigned
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to
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a
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flocculation/sedimentation
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plant
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with
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chlorine
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disinfection.
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IRWA
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and
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its
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partners
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were
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able
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to
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use
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the
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existing
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footprint
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of
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the
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plant
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creating
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a
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series
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of
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flocculation
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and
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sedimentation
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basins
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and
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finished
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water
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storage.
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Plate
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settlers
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were
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employed
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in
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the
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sedimentation
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basins
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to
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improve
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plant
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performance.
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Construction
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was
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accomplished
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by
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local
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labor
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with
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oversight
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by
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IRWA
...
and
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our
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partner
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organization
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in
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Honduras,
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Agua
...
y
...
Desarrollo
...
Comunitario
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(ADEC).
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The
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plant
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was
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designed
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to
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operate
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without
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power
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as
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electricity
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is
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not
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available
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at
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the
...
site.
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The
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treatment
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process
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including
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chemical
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addition
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is
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accomplished
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through
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gravity
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flow.
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Nearly
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all
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of
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the
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materials
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used
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to
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construct
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the
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plant
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including
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the
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plate
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settlers
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were
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procured
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from
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sources
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in
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Honduras.
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Total
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costs
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for
...
the
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plant
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were
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$64,000
...
which
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were
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shared
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by
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IRWA
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($36,000)
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and
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the
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town
...
of
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Marcala
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($28,000).
...
The
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town
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has
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hired
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two
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full
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time
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operators
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and
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has
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recently
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been
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notified
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by
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the
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Honduran
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national
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government
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of
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a
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grant
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to
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bring
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electrical
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power
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to
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the
...
site.
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Water
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quality
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has
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improved
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tremendously
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as
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a
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result
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of
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the
...
plant.
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June
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through
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November
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marks
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the
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rainy
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season
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in
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Marcala
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during
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which
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the
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Chieflador
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River,
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source
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for
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the
...
plant,
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becomes
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very
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muddy.
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The
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plant
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is
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operating
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at
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500
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gallons
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per
...
minute
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and
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has
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been
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treating
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water
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with
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turbidity
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levels
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as
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high
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as
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750
...
NTU.
...
The
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community
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is
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extremely
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happy
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with
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the
...
quality
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of
...
the
...
water
...
and
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there
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is
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a
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real
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sense
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of
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excitement
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for
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the
...
future.
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