Wastewater pipeline project gets $2 million in state funds
By Randy Bell
After receiving almost $8 million in Congressional funding earlier this year, a project to build a wastewater pipeline to serve Clinton and other parts of western Hinds County has gotten $2 million from the Mississippi Legislature. According to Senate Bill 2189, the money was set aside:
“To assist the Clinton/Raymond/Bolton/Regional Wastewater Authority in paying costs associated with construction and development of the Clinton/Raymond/Bolton Wastewater Authority project that will transport treated wastewater from the members’ municipal lagoons and treatment facilities to the Big Black River.”
Rep. Clay Mansell says, “This $2 million investment is a big win for Clinton. It helps us address critical wastewater infrastructure needs now while positioning the city for future growth. Projects like this aren’t flashy, but they’re essential to protecting public health and supporting continued development.”
Mayor Will Purdie says the federal and state appropriations move the project closer to completion.
“At the end of the day, we got right at $10 million between all legislative levels for the project this year,” said Purdie. “Certainly, I call that a great result. That will be huge in progressing us along in the project.”
Last year, the pipeline received no government money.
Purdie says the goal now is to secure the rest of the needed funding for the $130-$135 million project.
“We will immediately and already have gotten back to work on the next round of appropriations.”
Former Congressman Gregg Harper and his associate Brett Bailey have been assisting Clinton, lobbying Congress and the Legislature for continued funding.
The pipeline is considered crucial for future economic development, because Clinton is running out of capacity to continue discharging treated wastewater into local streams and, without it, might face a moratorium on new sewage connections in a few years. And, in addition to helping Raymond and Bolton with their wastewater discharges, the pipeline is expected to spur development across western Hinds County.