Fairhope, Alabama
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| Treatment plant #3 to be enlarged. |
NECESSARY TO MEET DEMAND
The city council awarded a contract to enlarge the number three water well treatment plant on River Road near the Marlow community, but not before questioning its high cost.
Low bidder for the project was The Creel Company for not-to-exceed cost of $7.6 million for demolition of the old facility and replacement with larger pumps, piping, electrical, emergency power, and water treatment equipment ... to accommodate new water well number eleven which is now being drilled nearby.
The second lowest bidder was over $8 million.
The new well will increase system capacity by 2.8 million gallons per day (33% increase, to almost 11 million gallons/day) to meet rising demand and alleviate any water shortfalls like those that occurred earlier this summer when it was unusually dry. If the water quality of a shallower "test well" that was also drilled proves satisfactory, that one could be used too for another one million gallons per day increase.
Water superintendent Langley said customers' water usage now during normal rainy weather is about 6 million gallons/day but earlier in the year during the drought was near the city's 9 million capacity.
New, larger pipes will eventually need to be installed as well, northward along CR 33 to CR 48 and then westward to the east Fairhope Avenue tank across from Walmart, according to councilman Boone.
Boone, a former infrastructure contractor, told the Times the cost was not excessive considering current high construction costs ("inflation").
The contractor will have 365 days to complete the project.
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| New well eleven drilling. |
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