The Macon, Ga., Water Authority is saying goodbye to the old with the decommissioning of the Riverside/Pierce Avenue Water Treatment Plant, and a few customers’ commute to work may be affected.
The progress will have an effect on those living in the areas surrounding the plant and trucks will traverse both Pierce Ave. and Riverside Drive for the duration of the 10-month contract, creating some extra traffic congestion in the area.
Weater permitting, the bulk of the over 14,700 truckloads of dirt will be moved in the next two months by National Salvage & Service of Bloomington, Ind. The work will take place from 7 AM – 6 PM during the week and at spot times during the weekend.
The plant was severely damaged in July 1994 by floodwaters caused by Tropical Storm Alberto. The MWA secured funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency to assist with repairs and improvements while construction took place on the Frank C. Amerson, Jr. Water Treatment Plant at the MWA’s Javors J Lucas Lake.
A condition of the MWA receiving FEMA’s assistance was that the Pierce Plant had to be retired after the new plant was put into service. The Amerson Plant now has the capacity to pump 60 mgd though the average is just 29 mgd, to the customers in the city of Macon and Bobb County communities, making the Riverside/Pierce Plant obsolete.
Once completely decommissioned, the old plant will feature outdoor and recreation activities for citizens to enjoy, as the site becomes a focal point and trail head of the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail.
Source: MWA
