Looking at the derelict Waterworks Pumping Station, between the river and canal,one gets the feeling no money has been spent for years.
By the time the Augusta Canal is refilled in April, one of the key components to ensuring Augusta's drinking water needs through 2050 will have been completed.
Workers are finishing the installation of two 60-inch water lines at the city's century-old Waterworks Pumping Station, which transfers raw water to a treatment plant on Highland Avenue.
The pipeline project will be one of the final segments of a $68 million upgrade to the city's water system, which serves more than 68,000 customers.
Drew Goins, the interim utilities director, said crews are working longer shifts hoping to finish the project by April 6, when the canal will be slowly rewatered.
"Barring any problems with more weather, that's still our planned schedule," he said.
Although the city normally gets its drinking water from the canal, the supply is being pumped directly from the Savannah River with a pair of new, 2,500-horsepower diesel pumps that will serve as a future backup to the water system.
The Highland Avenue 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.
Reach Rob Pavey at (706) 868-1222, ext. 119 or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
Looking at the derelict Waterworks Pumping Station, between the river and canal,one gets the feeling no money has been spent for years.
We noticed that there are no cattails growing along the banks. Muskrats eat cattails. Muskrats are so much fun to watch playing in the water. I have been enjoying seeing the Muskrats for about 50 years. I don't want the canal to be with out them. Does anyone else enjoy seeing the Muskrats?
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