Mount Pleasant staff: city well and treatment plant coming online; $300,000 grant funds remain for water project

City staff updated the Mount Pleasant City Council Aug. 26 on the municipal water system: a new well is expected to come online imminently and the water treatment plant paperwork and testing are nearly complete. Staff said the items needed for the treatment plant have been submitted and that the well could be operational “within the next two days.”

Councilors discussed how to spend approximately $300,000 remaining from the larger water project. Staff described the funds as a 100% grant for the project and proposed using part of the balance for fencing to protect springs and for engineering and pipe work to remove air/vacuum boxes and run a solid pressurized line to a future water tank. Staff said Rural Development has given permission to proceed with certain work and noted they purchased a Bobcat forklift (as part of the project) to move materials at the site.

City staff said the immediate priorities are to engineer the replacement of the air/vacuum vents, get the treatment plant fully permitted, complete work that can be finished with available grant funds, and then roll remaining items into the water-tank phase of the project. Councilors asked that staff prioritize engineering and report back with specific budgets and schedules before authorizing additional spending.

What’s next: Staff will finalize engineering scopes for removal of air/vacuum boxes and pressurization, prepare cost estimates for use of the $300,000 grant balance, and return to council with recommendations and schedules for remaining work.