Sewer to go on-line by this fall

By By Thomas Tingle
Record Managing Editor
Construction of a new wastewater treatment facility for the city of Madison will be completed this fall. However, construction of the city's new water treatment plant has been delayed by seven months.
According to Whitey Bressette, general manager for the Water and Wastewater Department, the $23 million wastewater treatment facility, which is located off Landers Circle, is due to go on-line by the end of September or the first of October. Bressette said construction of the facility began a year ago. Upon its completion, the city of Madison will no longer rely on the city of Huntsville to treat its wastewater.
"We will be able to treat six thousand gallons of water per day at the new facility and it has been designed for future expansion," Bressette said.
Construction of a new water treatment plant for the city has been delayed by seven months due to funding regulation changes.
Bressette said the plant is scheduled to go on-line in July 2003. Funding to build the plant – budgeted at $8 million – will come through the State Water Revolving Fund.
"Due to funding regulation changes, we've had to delay the construction of the new plant and that has been done to save on interest costs," Bressette said.
Upon its completion, the plant will be able to treat eight thousand gallons of water per day with up to 12 thousand gallons of water per day treatable.
"At this time, the location of the water treatment plant is set to be built on property that now belongs to Intergraph near the rock quarry," Bressette said. "That is under negotiation at this time. If the roads are not dedicated to the city of Madison, we will have to look at another location to build the plant. We are looking for additional property as a back-up plan."
Bressette said between four to five acres of property is needed to build the plant and it will take a year to build the facility once construction begins.