DEWAYNE HOLLOWAY/dewayne@mcnews.online
The City of Mount Ida has completed work on a levee located at their waste water treatment facility over two years after they were forced to breach the existing levee due to excessive flooding in March 2018.
The need for a new levee became necessary in March 2018 when over 19 inches of rain flooded the city’s sewers and water treatment facility. The facility is located adjacent to the South Fork of the Ouachita River. Excessive rainfall flooded a saturation pond that is supported by the levee in question, putting the levee at risk of breaking. Reports from 2018 reflect that the city water department contacted ADEQ about their situation. They were referred to a provision within their permit that allows for release of untreated water into the Ouachita River “loss of life, personal injury or severe property damage” cannot be prevented otherwise. The levee was breached to lower water levels in the pond enough to safely make temporary repairs to the strengthen the levee. After the repairs were made they city submitted a plan that included building a new larger levee to prevent future incidents like the one in 2018.
The levee project was delayed by funding as the city waited on the grant process to be completed. Work began on the levee earlier this year and was completed last week by Chad Abernathy and his crew.
City water employee Trey Fiorello stated that the water in the pond is used to stabilize organisms used in the wastewater treatment process. He explained that the water in the pond is untreated water that is released into the holding tanks when sewer water levels are low. This helps maintain the organisms.
The levee makes up the north wall of the pond, preventing water from being released into the South Fork of the Ouachita River.
Mayor Jo Childress is glad to get the project completed and was very pleased with the work done on the levee by Abernathy.
