Walnut Creek project features new wastewater treatment plant, sewer line and more
McDonough, Ga., Feb. 19, 2003 -- Construction progress continues on a number of capital improvements at the Henry County Water & Sewerage Authority (HCWSA). Capital improvements on the sewer side of operations dominate the HCWSA construction schedule right now, but with the permit for the new Tussahaw Reservoir in hand, drinking water production and distribution are also about to receive a much-needed boost.
Progress on the Walnut Creek Interceptor (sewer line), Water Reclamation Plant (for treatment of wastewater), and Land Application System (LAS) continue at a brisk pace. Tunneling at three locations along the path of the sewer line -under Highway 20, Highway 155, and Airline Road -has been completed. In addition, at the plant site, the exteriors are complete, with plumbing and electrical work soon to follow, for the administration, electrical, maintenance and blower buildings.
The Walnut Creek Interceptor is being labeled the "backbone of the sewerage system for Henry County," by John Dean of ARCADIS, the Authority's engineering firm that is overseeing this construction. Consultants from ARCADIS have also submitted preliminary site work and design for the Cotton Indian Creek Interceptor as well.
In addition, capital improvements on another sewer system project are making progress thanks to engineers from Stantec. HCWSA contractors have completed all of the clearing for a 24" gravity sewer line that is being constructed along Indian Creek, to provide much needed sewer collection services to customers in this basin. Crews are taking extra precautions to protect the stream and buffer along Indian Creek while working on this line.
"The sewer lines will really be a boost for our customers in these basins, as we try to stay ahead of the demand curve for services in Henry County," says Lindy Farmer, general manger of the HCWSA. "We are also taking every precaution to preserve and protect the natural resources along Walnut and Indian Creeks, as we progress with these two major construction projects."
Stantec consultants are just as busy assisting the Authority with upgrades and expansion of its drinking water production and distribution facilities. The engineering firm is making progress on the design and construction of the new 13 million gallon per day (mgd) Tussahaw Water Production Facility, which will be capable of expanding to 26 mgd capacity in the future. The Surface Water Withdrawal Permit for Tussahaw has been posted for public review, and the plans were submitted to EPD for final review shortly thereafter. The target date for getting bids on the construction of the plant is set for early spring.
The Tussahaw Reservoir will be a 1,466-acre raw water storage lake whose construction will involve wetland mitigation (preserving and replacing impacted wetlands), a main dam, three saddle dams, and a five-cycle labyrinth weir secondary spillway. The Georgia Safe Dams Program has already reviewed and commented on final plans for the Authority's dam on Tussahaw Creek, and the bid process on the construction of the dam began earlier this month. Several pre-qualified contractors are showing interest in the Tussahaw Project, according to Skip Lay ton, project manager with Stantec, who provided a construction update at the most recent HCWSA board meeting.
Finally, the 1 million gallon elevated storage tank and 2 million gallon pump station in Hampton are all but complete. The tank is assembled and painted, with the HCWSA logo still to come. Residents around Hampton should begin to see the direct value of the new pump station once it becomes operational in a few months. It will provide added water pressure for customers in this area by 35 PSI (pounds per square inch).
Providing an early "thumbs up" to the Hampton elevated storage tank and pump station were Boy Scouts from Pack 163, Webelos ll-Den 2 of the Tussahaw District, who toured the site recently while working on their "engineering" merit badge.
