October 22, 2024
With a focus on maintaining excellent water-quality standards, Starkville Utilities is moving forward with plans to install new aerators at the Ernest E. Jones Wastewater Treatment Plant.
“Aerators evenly distribute oxygen in wastewater, a process that fosters microbial growth to break down organic material and help remove solids from water,” said Mary Williams, Starkville Utilities’ capital projects manager. “We’re prioritizing them in our capital improvement plan based on the crucial role they play in our wastewater treatment processes.”
The $8.9 million project resulted from comprehensive evaluations of Starkville’s water and wastewater systems, which identified around $92 million in investments over the next 20 years to improve performance, capacity and service life.
Currently, the plant is using temporary aerators for oxygenation due to equipment malfunctions. Operators sample and test water every day to ensure compliance with state and federal environmental standards.
Hemphill Construction of Richland, Mississippi, was awarded the contract to replace aerators, with work set to begin in spring 2025. To prepare for the project, Starkville Utilities will upgrade electrical equipment and facilities, much of which is original to the plant and in poor condition.
“We’re constructing a new electrical building to replace existing electrical equipment that has reached the end of its useful life,” Williams said. “In addition to improving operator safety, electrical upgrades will strengthen reliability by providing a redundant power supply for key treatment processes.”
Starkville Utilities is a public utility serving 14,000 residences, businesses and industries in Starkville, Mississippi as well as Mississippi State University. Its mission is to supply safe, reliable, and cost-effective electric and water service of superior quality and value that improves the lives of its customers.