SUN HERALD
By J.R. Welsh
Saturday, September 1, 2007
POPLARVILLE WATER PROJECT PROPOSED
(PEARL RIVER COUNTY, Mississippi) – State officials announced this week they will be reviewing a package to build more than $2 million in water and wastewater improvement projects in the Poplarville area.
The money will be spent to produce a water supply well capable of pumping 700 gallons per minute, along with construction of a 500,000-gallon elevated storage tank and a water treatment plant.
The Pearl River County Utility Authority already has received bids for the projects. Trudy Fisher, MDEQ's executive director, said the department intends to move quickly on final approval.
The projects are part of a wider plan to improve water and wastewater facilities throughout the region. Many water infrastructure facilities were damaged by Hurricane Katrina and must be replaced.
"On the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we are mindful of how important these infrastructure projects are for rebuilding and recovery in South Mississippi," Fisher said.
The Gulf Region Water and Wastewater Plan gave recommendations for enhancement projects using $641 million in disaster recovery funds in Pearl River, Stone, Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties. The money came from U.S. Housing and Urban Development funding and was passed along by Gov. Haley Barbour.
On Aug. 20, Barbour and the DEQ also announced $15.3 million in grants for Hancock County.
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