Frequently Asked Questions

We need to upgrade our system. Our current wastewater treatment facilities can’t meet more strict environmental requirements, they are susceptible to the increasingly severe impacts from storms and flooding, and there is no room for expansion or innovation. In addition, there are industries in the area that have to reduce the amount of water they pull from the local rivers during droughts – this can cause process slow downs. With room to expand and innovate, JCUA would be able to address all these challenges and support local industry.

The new facility will most likely be located in Southeast Jackson County near the industrial end users, but the facility would handle wastewater from across a significant portion of Jackson County (potentially as far west as Ocean Springs). In addition to updating infrastructure and treatment capacity and improving drought resilience, the new facility would provide environmental benefits across the county – for example, the current plants ship waste materials to landfills, but in the new plant, some of those wastes would be transformed into a safe fertilizer that could be used by any gardener or farmer. For more information click to see the Information Sheet on innovation in addition to the wide range of resources on the Learn More tab where you can read about water reclamation, innovative elements, environmental benefits, and more.

Design of the project is complex, and we are still in the early phases of design. It will take approximately 2 to 3 more years to complete the design process before construction can begin (click for a project timeline overview.) The lengthy process is necessary to design a new facility that meets our needs for environmental protection, growth, and resilience; incorporates innovative elements; and balances other community needs.

JCUA wants to help our customers, community members, and other stakeholders understand our current operations and future needs. We also want to be transparent about this project and provide as much information as we can from start to finish to keep leaders and decision makers informed and engaged in the process. It is our goal to create partnerships to help advance the project and deliver the important benefits to the communities we serve.

Providing information and engaging the community is an important part of the project. Explore this website to read info sheets, watch short videos, explore the interactive map, and view other tools and resources.