The Arkansas Department of Health is pressuring Blytheville Waterworks to expand its water treatment plant.
Waterworks General Manager Gary Phillips told the Airport and Utilities Committee Thursday that the 2 million gallon per day expansion would take 18-24 months and cost approximately $3 million.
"They are telling us that we are maxed out on our capacity and they are telling us that, while they are not insisting that we do this, if we do not submit a plan to them then they have the potential of banning new commercial connections," Phillips said. "I know that's not something we want. Again, the numbers here are kind of frightening."
Officials fear not expanding will hurt economic development.
"You keep hearing the rumors that people are wanting to come, they're looking at Blytheville," Phillips said. "I would hate to be in a position where we couldn't hook them up with water because the Health Department says we can't."
Phillips pointed out currently the water department's capacity couldn't handle a new one million gallon a day user, like the old Bush Canning Company. Hooking up new residential customers shouldn't be an issue, however.
"We're not anywhere near turning any residential down," said Councilman Kevin Snow, chairman of the committee.
Phillips added: "Really, he's talking about industrial users."
Councilman R.L. Jones contends adding an industry would boost water revenues.
"When we had Bush Canning here, we didn't have to worry about the rainy season because they were making up for the rainy season," Jones said.
Snow responded: "Commercial revenue is good, but I also think one of our first priorities is to our citizens. We've got to make sure we have enough to service these commercial (customers) by not cutting back or hurting (citizens)."
Phillips indicated, long-range, the city will need to consider an additional water treatment plant.
"We got lucky this year," Phillips said. "Very lucky this year. Sadly, it impacted our revenues. At this point, the stress on the plant, the stress on pumps, I really dread what's going to happen next year if we have a hot, dry summer."
He also said the Water Department would be challenged if Dogwood Water, a 630,000 gallon a day user, became dependent on Waterworks.
"That would significantly impact us if we had to supply them very long," Phillips said. "I think that was the other thing that was mentioned in this meeting with the Health Department."
Snow said one would think with the drop in population that water usage would drop.
However, Phillips said more residents are using sprinkler systems than ever before and Waterworks has noticed a dramatic increase in its distribution to wholesalers.
Capacity concerns have forced the city to consider the expansion.
Phillips said officials are looking at potential funding sources for the expansion, including bonding companies and the Arkansas Department of Natural Resources.
He added the engineer, SSR Ellers, will tailor the expansion plan to available funding.
"I think there is a way we can do this and not make any additional revenue burdens on the water company and we will not have to raise rates," Phillips said. "That's my goal. I prefer to leave everything the way it is and be able to do this ourselves. There may be a way to do it, part of this is including that revenue that a large water user would be to do it."
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com