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Search For Related NewsMontgomery County News
RPWA shoots for treatment plant on line in 30 - 45 daysMOUNT IDA - The Montgomery County Regional Public Water Authority officers met all day long on March 29 with the contractors who have been working on the three phases of the new water system. This new system has a late April or early May projected finish date and will provide treated water to the Oden-Pencil Bluff area and to the Mount Ida water system.
City of Mount Ida Mayor Jo Childress is also president of the Water Authority with Don Monk as vice president.
This March 29 meeting with the contractors had two main purposes. One was for the Water Authority to obtain an update on the progress of the three phases, and for the contractors to submit bills for completed work.
Present at the Thursday meeting were Keith Husky and Bette Vaughn of the Arkansas Rural Development Council; City of Mount Ida employees Bruce Carmack, Trey Fiorello, Ted Weston; Stephen Ritchie, Michael Hunt and Greg Hunt of Cossatot Builders Incorporated; engineer Tim Mays of ESI; Joyce Silverman and Randy Polk with the Arkansas Natural Resource Commission; and Brookie Mayberry of the Mayor’s Office.
Tim Mays presented the progress report for March. He started with Contract II which is the water transmission lines done by BB&B Construction. From March 3rd to the 24th, the contractor installed pipe valves and other materials, which are now complete. The contractor lacks testing the water lines and minor clean up of a few areas. They are waiting for the treatment plant to provide the water necessary for the testing phase.
Contract III was the next part of Tim Mays’ presentation. This is the water storage tank site on Mauldin Mountain. The contractor is Circle P Welding. The firm returned to the location, completed the final grading of the land surrounding the tank, placed topsoil, seed and mulch. Fencing should be completed in April. When water is produced by the treatment plant, the tank will be pressure tested, sterilized and flushed out. The company who installed the lines will use that water to test the valves and connections along the system.
Contract I is being done by Cossatot Builders. This is the water treatment plant itself.
The discussion on March 29 centered on proper ventilation in the chemical mixing rooms using exhaust fans. This was the most important area. Heating will not be an issue in the pump room as the actual pumps will generate enough heat. In the filter room, a small, localized heater should be enough.
One of the chemicals used in water treatment is caustic soda. The rooms where that is used must be well ventilated, stated Mayor Childress.
Electrical work continues at the treatment plant. Land grading is done, yard piping is still waiting on some parts, and the heat and air conditioning electrical work is done. Clearwell and other tanks will be sterilized, and when all the proper chemicals arrive, the tank will be filled with a concentration of chlorine to disinfect the wells. This must set for 24 hours and then can be used to sterilize the lines to and from the holding tank.
Several of the pumps did not respond to variable speed tests, were pulled out by the supplier and recalibrated. The filter system is critical for the plant to work properly, and must be able to work at variable speeds.
An inspection by the Arkansas Health Department noticed that an access hatch was flush to the floor. An overflow of water in that particular room could seep down through the hatch and get into treated water storage tanks. The access hatch should be at least three inches above the floor level and will be done that way. It may require a three inch tall lip or curb around the hatch.
Work is continuing steadily at the treatment plant. Testing of the equipment and the production of treated water for the public is about one month away if all the testing goes right at the plant, the storage tank and in the water transmission lines.
