Greenwood’s new wastewater treatment plant is already processing some of the city’s sewage, but the grand opening has been put off for now.
With thick muck all around, it’s probably not a good site for a celebration, Mayor Carolyn McAdams said.
“Right now, you could have a mud wrestling event out there,” she said. “The building looks good, however.”
McAdams said the final cost of the plant could be up to $35 million.
When ready, the plant — necessitated by more rigorous state water treatment standards — will take the place of the city’s current facility. The mayor said concrete pieces of the old building will be moved and then ground up.
The new treatment standards have already produced a ready customer for the new plant — Mississippi Valley State University, which also must meet the standards.
“If you look, Valley is already working its way here,” she said, adding that pipes are already being laid along the side of U.S. 82.
Another potential customer for the plant — the city of Itta Bena — has not announced any plans to link up with the university’s pipework, McAdams said. Greenwood also is hoping to link up with Sidon, she said.
Greenwood City Council President Ronnie Stevenson said that now that the plant is nearing completion, he hopes it will eventually pay dividends to the city.
“It’s probably going to be one of the better facilities in the state,” he said.
At some point, other towns are likely to be subject to the same new wastewater treatment standards as Greenwood, and “they are going to have to hook on with us,” he said.
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
