Council votes on new wastewater system, voids land app plans

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - After years of planning city council members voted to change the city's wastewater system plans Tuesday.

Council members voted 4-0 to void the land application system and move forward with the mechanical waste water treatment for the city.

Councilwoman Deborah Delgado said, "The lagoon will not be used, the mechanical system is what they call a waste water treatment plan."

Delgado added, "That will process the wastewater that comes from Hattiesburg."

The city has faced multiple setbacks with the land application system, which was a big factor in their change of plans.

"We were unable to do the land application system process that was targeted for Lamar county" said Delgado.

The city looked at other locations to move forward with the land application.

She said, "But that as it turned out, did not work." Delgado said she would rather spend tax dollars on the mechanical system, which has a proven track record across the country.

"If we are going to attract industry, grow, and expand the way we need to as a city, I think that is the way to go" added Delgado.

According to Delgado the land application system would have been the first grand wastewater system in Mississippi. "As a council person in Hattiesburg, not only for the people I represent, I do not think that we can afford such a grand experiment" she said.

Attorneys, engineers, and council members will start from ground zero in hopes to meet their 2019 deadline, said Delgado.