It’s a common goal to keep that watershed as clean as possible. “We have partnerships with other utilities pulling water from the same reservoir. “All those vulnerability points are identified upstream in the watershed,” Burchfield says. The SWAP identifies all the sources of waste in the tributaries that feed the river, such as fueling plants or bridges where there is potential for a tanker spill. The water works and its regional partners have had a Source Water Assessment Plan in place since 2001 and upgraded in 2018. The source water is the Chattahoochee River on the border between Georgia and Alabama. It also operates one central wastewater treatment plant and two small plants that handle combined sewer overflows in the older part of the city. It serves Muscogee County and sells water to Harris and Talbot counties and the Fort Benning military base. The utility pumps an average of 35 mgd from a treatment plant with a capacity of 90 mgd. It also has electronic monitors on creeks throughout the region. Walking the creeks is just one way Columbus Water keeps a close watch on the creeks that drain its service area and supply its reservoir. “We generate work orders based on each walk, and our field services team follows up,” says Burchfield. Knee-deep in the water, the creek walkers look for pipes that are cracked, for pipes that have been bumped by trees washing downstream during high water, or for erosion that might leave pipes unsupported and vulnerable to cracking. They generally walk the creeks during low-flow periods they work two or three at a time for safety. Once a year, the water utility joins with the stormwater utility for a creek-walking event, but the water utility also has a three-person watershed crew that routinely walks creeks known to have issues with sewer pipes that cross them, or other potential problems. The creek walking program was one reason Columbus Water Works won a 2019 Sustainable Utility Award for utility management from the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. When you’re walking, you can see how the stream is flowing, and if it looks healthy. We also observe the wildlife, such as frogs, turtles and minnows. It’s like any inspection: You have to know where to look. “We find it very beneficial to routinely walk the creeks,” says Vic Burchfield, senior vice president for the Division of Information, Security, Environmental and Meter Services in Columbus, a Georgia city of nearly 200,000. Currently, appointments are only available for residents residing in Columbus, GA.Columbus Water Works team members regularly wade upstream in creeks looking for problems such as cracked sewer pipes or erosion that has left pipes unsupported.Ĭolumbus Water Works uses electronic monitoring and other technology to manage its watershed and its water and wastewater treatment, but it also uses more pedestrian methods. “With the addition of the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program, ESP is better equipped to comprehensively help families keep running water in their household and ensure the continuity of their basic needs,” says Jamie Thomas, Director of Community Services.įunds are administered on a first-come, first-served basis until all funds are exhausted. Be responsible for paying the cost of water for the household or be able to verify a water burden.Have a total gross income at or below 60% of the State Median Income Guidelines for Georgia. The other basic eligibility requirements are: Payments will be issued directly to the water account through Columbus Water Works. The amount of assistance is determined by household size, income, and composition. Steve Davis, President of Columbus Water Works, also speaks to the importance of the partnership, “we are very excited to be able to join Enrichment Services Program to provide additional assistance for our customers.” “Partnerships are the foundation of our mission, and I am so excited that we are strengthening our mission of eliminating poverty through this new service with Columbus Water Works.” “Now, we have an additional resource to assist families until they are able to attain self-sufficiency,” says Belva Dorsey, Chief Executive Officer of ESP. Households in Columbus, GA, can receive up to $300 in water assistance, including arrearage dues, past-due obligations, and current bills. LIHWAP is a federally funded program created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide financial relief on water bills for eligible residents. Enrichment Services Program, Inc., (ESP) is proud to announce a new program, Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), in partnership with Columbus Water Works.
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