Sometimes we wonder if Augusta ever looks toward the future and sometimes we read articles like this. I'm afraid the "half century" prediction may be a little optimistic though.
Behind a series of temporary walls and barricades, an expansion that will provide Augusta's drinking water needs for the next half-century is gradually taking shape.
"It's a shame so much of this gets covered up once it's built," said Drew Goins, the city's assistant utilities director for water production. "Once it's all done, people will wonder what we spent $63 million on."
The project, scheduled for completion in June 2009, will build on a technology brought to Augusta in 1899, when the city built one of the nation's first two sand filtration plants to provide drinking water.
The Highland Avenue plant, which treats water from the Savannah River and pumps it to thousands of homes and businesses, was expanded in the 1930s and again in the 1950s, with smaller modifications made in the 1970s.
Currently, the plant can produce as much as 45 million gallons of drinking water daily. The addition of a new filtration building and general upgrades throughout the site will increase that capacity to 60 million gallons.
Currently, Augusta's population uses anywhere from 24 million gallons per day in the winter to a summer usage that peaks between 42 million and 45 million gallons per day, Mr. Goins said.
Reach Rob Pavey at 868-1222, ext. 119, or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.
HIGHLAND AVENUE PROJECT
OBJECTIVE: Expand treatment plant's daily production from 45 million to 60 million gallons.
COST: $63.5 million, of which 35 percent is being spent with local or minority contractors.
TIMETABLE: Work began in November 2006; should be complete in June 2009.
CURRENT STATUS: 42 percent complete and still on schedule.
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT :
- Augusta once relied on shallow groundwater wells in south Richmond County. Several wells were closed after traces of a toxic solvent were found in raw water.
- In 2005, the city expanded its use of Savannah River water when it opened the $55 million N. Max Hicks Water Treatment Plant off Tobacco Road.
- That plant's 15 million-gallon daily production -- expandable in the future to 60 million gallons -- let the city reduce its dependence on wells.
- The Highland Avenue Plant expansion, coupled with the Hicks Plant's ability to be expanded, will accommodate Augusta's drinking water needs through 2050.
Comments
Sometimes we wonder if Augusta ever looks toward the future and sometimes we read articles like this. I'm afraid the "half century" prediction may be a little optimistic though.
Many Augustans, and city employees as well, look to the future and try to plan. Many taxpayers, however, take issue with paying for what we have today.
Wow! Way to go Augusta!
Now THAT is good news!
$63 million?????? Wouldn't it be cheaper to just buy the water at Circle K ????
A very positive story. Proof that Augusta once had leadership with great vision, and hope that we are witnessing a return. But we must be ever vigilant re: our rain-dance governor and his privatizing mindset. Whose water is this? Augusta's! And if you doubt Augusta's foresight, look to Savannah. Below us on the river are two International Paper plants, three Georgia Power plants, a Citgo refinery, dozens of chemical manufacturers, and the radioactive contamination seepage from SRS. You can bet that nobody is casting a greedy eye at Savannah's toxic river water. Stopping the pollution would mean more government regulation and Georgians don't want that. No, we'd rather live poor and vote rich. No big government for us. If only Sonny could learn how to pedal a bicycle backwards!
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