PELL CITY — Officials announced Tuesday the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved plans for a new regional water treatment facility.St. Clair County Commissioner Paul Manning, who also serves as the chairman for the Coosa Valley Water Supply District, said the EPA approved plans for the construction of the new 6-million-gallons-a-day water treatment facility, which has been in the planning stages for more than five years.
He said the approval now allows CVWSD to move forward with soliciting bids for the multimillion-dollar project. However, final details must be worked out first.
CVWSD board met at the courthouse in Pell City Tuesday.
CVWSD board member Jimmy Bailey said participating cities must finalize their contracts with the water district before bids are solicited for the construction project.
Each entity — Pell City, Odenville, Springville and Lincoln — has agreed to purchase 750,000 gallons a day once the new regional surface water treatment is up and running. The price per gallon is not set and can’t be until construction costs are known.
Bailey said CVWSD is also waiting for Lincoln to finalize its contract with Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, so Lincoln can complete its contract with CVWSD.
The big question, officials say, is how much water Lincoln wants so it can adequately supply Honda Manufacturing of Alabama with surface water.
Local officials say the project has dragged on too long, and plans must be finished quickly.
Bailey said he believes a contract agreement is close between Lincoln and CVWSD.
An estimated $6 million water line must be constructed across the Coosa River to supply water to Lincoln from the surface water treatment plant in Ragland, while only about $4 million is pledged by the state to get water to HMA via Lincoln.
St. Clair County officials said in the past that construction of the new regional water treatment facility would move forward with or without Lincoln’s participation.
In other matters at Tuesday’s CVWSD board meeting, St. Clair County Commission Chairman Stan Batemon questioned board members as to whether the city of Trussville could tap in to the new water supply.
Officials say there are water connections through Odenville and Springville to adequately supply water to Trussville.
The CVWSD also approved releasing funds to pay for the water line connection between Odenville and Springville and for the new half-million-gallon water tank.
The project was initially estimated to cost $3.5 million, but bids were more than $5 million.
The water storage tank capacity was reduced from one million to half a million gallons, and the final cost of the project came in at $4.4 million.
The Odenville Utility Board agreed to pay $2 million towards that project, while Springville and the St. Clair County Commission are each paying $662,840 towards the work. The CVWSD’s share in the project was $1.3 million.
“The project has been finished since July,” Bailey said.
Bailey said the new surface water treatment facility will initially treat 3 mgd of water. After a year in operation, the plant can supply up to 4.5 mgd, and eventually it can pump up to 6 mgd.
