The Town of Gainesboro is looking to double its water withdrawal through the construction of a new water withdrawal intake structure and two raw water lines.
The town is currently permitted to withdraw some 750,000 gallons per day and has requested a TDEC permit that would allow it to take some 1.5 million gallons daily. Consulting Engineer Nathaniel Green said the current water treatment is overtaxed and the change would allow the town to provide residents with needed water supply for many years to come.
“We can do some grading and some installation of raw water line, however, we do have to wait for the United States Army Corps of Engineers, because they own the property that the current intake’s on, as well as the property that we’re planning to place the new intake on, which is adjacent to that intake,” Green said.
Green said the project is being funded in part through a $3 million ARP grant paid in allocations to both Gainesboro and Jackson County. He said the city has also applied for some $10.5 million from the State Revolving Loan Fund program to complete the rest of the project.
“The water treatment plant itself, we’re already designing that because the property was purchased previously,” Green said. “And so, we’re working through the design of the actual treatment plant at this point.”
The town’s water capacity is drawn from the Cumberland River/Cordell Hull Reservoir. Green said the Jackson County Utility District also purchases and relies on the water provided by this plant. In addition to being overtaxed, the infrastructure is aging and failing.
“As far as moving some dirt goes, we’re able to do portions of the projects a little sooner than others,” Green said.
In deciding whether to approve the permit, TDEC will consider available habitat parameters of affected waters and public comments. The waters are within the Cordell Hull Wildlife Refuge and contain the state-threatened Blue Mud-plantain.
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