The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved funding for several projects, including the Coosa Valley Water Authority’s proposed surface water treatment facility.U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, who is a member of the committee, made the announcement.
“These funds will provide citizens and industry throughout the region with a steady and reliable water source,” Shelby said.
The bill, which was approved by the committee Monday, is expected to go before the Senate for consideration soon. The bill allocates $800,000 toward the surface water treatment plant project.
“It’s a good project,” said Lincoln Mayor Lew Watson, who was instrumental in organizing the regional Coosa Valley Water Authority. “I’m glad they recognized the need. It’s a very beneficial project.”
St. Clair County Commission chairman Stan Batemon said with Senate approval of those funds, the Coosa Valley Water Authority has been able to tap into $2 million from Shelby and the local state delegation.
“We’ve already spent about $850,000 in engineering, permit applications, etc.,” Batemon said.
He said the engineering on the project is about 75 percent complete.
“We couldn’t have been this far along without Sen. Shelby’s help,” Batemon said, adding that Shelby was aware of the water needs of St. Clair and Talladega counties even before the Coosa Valley Water Authority was established.
Plans are to build an 8 mgd (million gallons per day) water treatment facility about halfway between Coal City and Ragland at the old Collins Spring quarry, which is located off Alabama 144.
“The quarry will act as a holding reservoir,” Batemon said. “The water will actually come out of the Coosa River.”
Batemon said the water treatment plant will initially treat and supply about 4 mgd of water to customers in St. Clair County, Lincoln and north Talladega County.
Watson said a 16-inch water main will extend across the Coosa River into Lincoln, which will provide not only Lincoln residents with a reliable water source, but others in north Talladega County.
“A 16-inch line will make for adequate supply for Lincoln and people in north Talladega County,” Watson said.
Officials hope the new surface water treatment facility can be up and running by spring 2007.
“It’s going slower than we thought, but we’re moving forward,” Watson said. “You just have to do a lot of planning before you move into the construction phase.”
Batemon said the new surface water treatment facility will provide a good, reliable source of water for people in the region, as well as provide water for future economic development.
St. Clair County is the third fastest growing county in Alabama, according to local officials.
“Wells are a gamble,” Batemon said. “Wells are just too uncertain. We’re creating a water treatment facility that will make water a certainty.”
