Project Description

Home
About
Project Description

Why is a new facility necessary?

Jackson County Utility Authority needs to upgrade our water reclamation / wastewater treatment system. Why?

Our current wastewater treatment facilities can’t meet the increasingly strict environmental requirements designed to protect our natural resources, the properties are susceptible to the impacts from storms and flooding that are getting progressively more frequent and severe, and some have no room for expansion or innovation.

In addition, there are industries in the area that pull water for use in their operations from our rivers. During times of drought, industries may face limits on the amount of water they can pull. These restrictions can cause process slow downs or temporary shut downs, and the practice in general can stress our river’s ecosystems.

With room to expand and innovate, Jackson County Utility Authority will be able to address all these challenges and support local industry.

Hurricane Katrina in 2005 flooded existing facilities

Flooding incapacitated treatment facility and pump stations
Employees could not gain access to the treatment facilities for weeks
Extensive damage to pumps, equipment, and electrical components

Severe drought conditions in 1999 and 2000 impacted the Pascagoula River

Required sustained releases from state-owned recreational reservoirs
Impacted industrial production due to diminished water supply
Sustained environmental impacts from low flow in river

Treatment standards are evolving

Local industries have strict standards for the source water used in processes and operations
Standards for discharge to local streams are expected to get more restrictive to protect our natural resources

Current facilities limited in capacity for expansion

Need to meet existing demands and also provide capacity for future growth
New facility will allow for innovation and advanced treatment technologies

Service Areas for the Planned New Water Reclamation Facility

The new water reclamation facility – still in the early phases of development and design (scroll down for a project timeline) – is necessary to meet environmental challenges, provide opportunities for innovation, support growth across the county, and strengthen the resiliency and reliability of our wastewater treatment infrastructure.

The new facility will most likely be located in Southeast Jackson County. While this is near the key industrial end users JCUA can partner with on this project, the facility will handle wastewater from across a significant portion of Jackson County, potentially as far west as Ocean Springs.

In addition to being located and designed to be reslilient against storm surges and the projected sea level rise, the new facility will:

Replace the older plants – Gautier, Escatawpa, and Pascagoula / Moss Point – with newer, more efficient equipment and facilities.

Centralize operations of the older three facilities into a new facility capable of treating an average of 20 million gallons of wastewater a day.

Off-load demands for the West Jackson County facility. That plant is nearing treatment capacity and doesn’t have ability to expand.

Critical Environmental & Economic Benefits of the Project

Zero Discharge

The goal of the new facility is to achieve zero discharge to local waterways. This means instead of JCUA discharging treated water to local rivers, the new facility will sell water directly to industry for reuse. This will minimize pollutants being discharged into the rivers AND reduce the amount of water pulled from the river for industrial needs. In addition, the sale of treated water to industrial customers may generate a new source of revenue.

Maximize Capacity for Reuse

The new facility will have additional post-treatment storage to maximize capacity for reuse. With this feature, if more treated water is produced than industry needs, up to 30 million gallons can be stored until needed, and still support the zero discharge goal.

Industrial Standards

The new facility is being designed to meet both industrial standards (for reuse) and standards for discharge to local streams (environmental permits), providing flexibility for water reuse.

Class A Biosolids

The new facility will produce Class A biosolids - a completely non-hazardous product that can be used safely by local farmers or home gardners. Creation of the Class A biosolids will save money by eliminating costs of $500 to $1000 per day to transport Class B biosolids to the West Jackson County Regional Land Treatment Facility. In addition, the biosolids could develop into a new source of revenue.

Compliant with all Permits

The design, construction, and operation of the facility will be compliant with all permits. This includes state and federal environmental permits, discharge permits, and permits to protect threatened and endangered species.

Economic Growth Opportunities

- The project may generate 40 to 60 new full-time construction jobs, as well as supporting jobs for vendors and suppliers.
- Pump station and force main construction may generate another 15 to 20 full-time positions over the anticipated 2- to 3-year construction period.
- Additional treatment capacity will allow residential and industrial growth, and add revenue from new customers.

Planning for Growth & Resiliency

Capacity for Growth

With a capacity to treat up to an average of 20 million gallons of water per day, the new facility will meet existing demands and also provide capacity for future growth in Jackson County.

Reduce Demand

Proximity to existing infrastructure is important to providing a resilient source of process water to industry, which will reduce the demand for surface water from the Pascagoula River.

Generate Revenue

The generation of water for industrial reuse and Class A biosolids both have the potential to generate an ongoing source of revenue – this could offset some portion of treatment and operation costs.

Resilent Operations

With the increased frequency and severity of storm events and associated flooding, design of the new facility will incorporate elements to support more resilient operations, even with the likely impacts of changing weather conditions including anticipated sea level rise.

Project Timeline Overview

Planning for the design, construction, and operation of a facility that meets all the objectives for protecting the environment, partnering with industry, accounting for population growth, advancing innovation, and incorporating resiliency is a complex process. Work is still in the early phases. The project team submitted the preliminary design (also referred to as the 30% design) to the US Army Corps of Engineers in September 2021, and spent the fall of 2021 responding to comments and input. Attention now shifts to seeking funding to complete the facility design and finance construction, as well as engaging partners in the community to support conversations about the many benefits of the project.

Want to know more? Join our mailing list to receive project updates.

Join Mailing List