The Desoto County Regional Utility Assn. (DCRUA) based in Hernando, Miss., has entered a public-private partnership with Severn Trent Services. In late 2012, Severn Trent took responsibility for the complete operation, maintenance and management of the association’s system of nine wastewater treatment plants in the northwestern part of the state. DCRUA plants serve approximately 20,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Hernando, Horn Lake, Olive Branch, Southaven and Walls, Miss.
The plants’ design treatment capacity is 8.4 million gal per day (mgd) with an average capacity of 6.9 mgd. When a new treatment plant in Johnson Creek, Miss., is brought online in April 2013 replacing four older, existing plants that will be decommissioned, the combined design capacity of the DCRUA plants will total 10.2 mgd.
"In today's economy, any steps a municipality can take to save money are paramount to success,” said Dana Kaas, vice president, operating services for Severn Trent Services. “Public–private partnerships provide our municipal partners with cost savings and regulatory benefits. Our partnership with DCRUA will immediately improve the Association’s asset management, and we plan to increase and improve the plants’ laboratory capabilities, providing significant long-term cost savings.
Source: Severn Trent Services
