Governor Tate Reeves announced the award of a $727,092 grant from the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council) to upgrade the wastewater infrastructure of the City of Long Beach. The RESTORE Council approved the RESTORE Act project, the goal of which is to improve water quality for the Mississippi Sound and other coastal water resources by reducing the city’s wastewater overflows.
“The Mississippi Sound has faced many challenges this past year, and they should not have to face recovery alone. We must roll up our sleeves and work together to ensure we’re protecting this precious natural resource. When we invest in improving the water quality of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, it helps promote a healthy ecosystem for our marine life and restores and revitalizes the local economy. I am pleased that the RESTORE Council has approved this project so the Gulf Coast can move forward and thrive,” said Governor Tate Reeves.
“The City of Long Beach is ecstatic and appreciative of funding obligated to our city which will allow us to replace a sewer lift station and sewer line that overflows during heavy rainfall. The overflow causes sewer run-off to flood Trautman Bayou and ultimately run into our Gulf of Mexico. The City of Long Beach is committed to keeping our waters and sea life safe for future generations. Our sincere gratitude to Governor Reeves and MDEQ for the funding to correct this situation,” said Mayor George Bass, City of Long Beach.
The City of Long Beach – Trautman Drainage Basin Wastewater System Upgrades project is funded by the Spill Impact Component, or Bucket 3, of the RESTORE Act and is administered by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). Research has shown that water quality degradation is often caused by urban runoff and wastewater discharge and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs).
“Overflows from urban wastewater collection systems on the Coast often directly impact coastal marshes and the Mississippi Sound through canals and bayous. Numerous studies and reports have demonstrated that such overflows contribute to decreases in water quality. Our objective, through projects such as this one, is improved water quality and a reduction of beach advisories, shellfish bed closures, and other environmental issues,” said Chris Wells, Interim MDEQ Executive Director.
Project components, which will be refined in the engineering and design phase, may include:
- Replacement and relocation of the pump station at the intersection of Pineville Rd. and Railroad St.;
- New discharge force main from the new pump station to the regional pump station at Nicholson St. and Railroad St.;
- Manhole upgrades, as necessary;
- Force mains and other pump station upgrades as deemed necessary and identified during engineering and design; and/or
- Potential downstream ditch maintenance to address relic bacteria in surface sediments.
The RESTORE Council was created in 2012 by the RESTORE Act. It is comprised of the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas as well as the Secretaries of the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, the Army, Commerce, Homeland Security, the Interior, and the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Information about Mississippi’s restoration efforts can be found at restore.ms.
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