City to begin long-range water study

The Jackson Board of Aldermen Monday night authorized a study expected eventually to result in the construction of a new water treatment plant.

The board agreed to pay Horner & Shifrin Inc. of St. Louis $51,700 to engineer the first two phases of the six-phase study. Those are the first steps in developing a 20-year plan for water supply and treatment in the city.

In the first two phases, the engineers will study water quality, demand, regulatory impact, supply analysis, preliminary treatment plant capacity/capability, filtration and high service pumping.

This year, the city expects to spend $642,000 on upgrades at the plant. The city's two treatment plants currently can treat a maximum of 1,800 gallons per minute. The maximum demand this year is expected to reach 2,333 gallons per minute.

City administrator Jim Roach has said that building a new water treatment plant is an inevitability.

In other business, the board authorized the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission to prepare an All-Hazard Mitigation Plan for the city. The plan is required to be in place by Nov. 1, 2004, in order to receive federal disaster funds.

Because of its relatively high incidence of natural disasters, its participation in the National Flood Insurance Program and its population, Cape Girardeau County is one of 53 in the state chosen to be assisted with the plan. Cities like Jackson are required only to devote some staff time.

Jackson already has an emergency response plan. The new plan is designed to handle such events as wind shear, micro-bursts and drought, along with providing refuge in outlying areas for victims of disasters in large cities.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182