Thursday, May 23, 2024–11:54 a.m.
-John Bailey, Rome News-Tribune-
This story is possible because of a news-sharing agreement with the Rome News-Tribune. More information can be found at northwestgeorgianews.com
The location for a water treatment facility to remove chemical pollutants introduced into Rome’s drinking water upstream may still be undetermined.
The proposal to place the facility on Riverside Parkway faces what appears to be a nearly split Rome City Commission. That question could come before commissioners as early as Tuesday.
As with any real estate question, location is the foremost concern. In this case, the debate is the cost of moving plans from Riverside Parkway versus the potential for alternate use of that property.
Up to this point, the flat area across from Ridge Ferry Park has been used as middle school football and soccer practice fields as well as for track and field events.
Cost
With the city commission already on the hook to back approximately $100 million in bonds for the Rome Middle School project, several commissioners are loath to be responsible for backing any more significant debt.
The Rome Water and Sewer Committee, earlier this month, reaffirmed the Riverside Parkway location as the best location for the facility.
Committee members Randy Quick, Jim Bojo and Bill Collins voted to back the location and recommended that a competitive bid process be used instead of selecting a construction manager at-risk, to save money.
However, the recommendations have to go before the full City Commission.
The plant, which will likely cost upwards of $200 million, gets even more costly if moved to a different location, Bojo said.
He would like to see the project completed without the city going into any significant debt. Rome has $184 million in the bank from a water pollution settlement that is designated solely for the project. Those funds are currently accruing interest, but may still not be enough to fully complete the project.
Construction consultant InSite Engineering looked at several sites in the immediate area. The current water treatment facility on Blossom Hill and the nearby Public Works facility were both considered.
The downside to using the public works or Blossom Hill site is that they’re bordered by natural features, removing the potential for later expansion.
There also would be the additional cost of moving the public works facility to another location, Bojo said.
“Really, the only two feasible sites, from a construction and timing standpoint, are the existing water plant site and the Riverside Parkway site,” Bryan Pate with InSite Engineering told the water committee members.
The Riverside Parkway location is near the river and already has supply pipes running from the Oostanaula pump station to the Blossom Hill water facility located in ground on the property.
Other sites also would incur additional costs of running supply lines. For each additional foot of water line run, it adds $1,000 to the project. At this point, Bojo said, there haven’t been any firm cost estimates for other locations.
Potential
The argument against Riverside Parkway hearkens back to similar arguments concerning governmental development along Rome’s downtown riverfronts.
Many, including several current city commissioners, have criticized the city and county governments’ placement of government buildings and parking decks along what is viewed as prime riverfront property.
City Commissioner Wayne Robinson has been one of the most vocal commissioners asking to tap the brakes before placing the water filtration plant.
Saying he’d like to see development on Riverside Parkway, Robinson didn’t rule out government development. He pointed to Cartersville’s Clarence Brown Conference Center with an attached Courtyard by Marriott as an example.
“If not, it’s a fantastic retail site,” Robinson said. He pointed to the city’s role in the Nova River District development on West Third Street.
That development, which is currently under construction, will feature ground floor parking and commercial space as well as four floors above containing about 250 one- and two-bedroom apartments.
Robinson said he’d like to review the proposal again before ruling out other potential sites for the filtration plant.
“I think it’s got a lot of potential,” Robinson said.
Deadline
The US Environmental Protection Agency recently announced new water quality standards, which are essentially zero-tolerance, for the PFAS family of chemicals. The standards will be enforced starting in 2029. The enforceable levels for PFOA and PFOS, which are the two main chemicals found in the Oostanaula, will be 4 parts per trillion.
The PFAS family of chemicals, also known as forever chemicals, don’t break down readily in the environment or the human body. They are used in a variety of applications from making carpets stain-resistant to non-stick cookware as well as a number of other items.
Currently, the city is in a good holding pattern for water quality. Rome is pulling water from the Etowah River, and has done so since 2016. But that could change.
“All it will take to kick you guys over that (EPA limit) is one new industry coming to town and increasing water production at the water plant,” Pate told the water committee.
Saying that he’s well aware of an EPA compliance deadline, Robinson said he wants to make sure the location of the project is fully explored before setting it in stone.
“We’ve got to get something done quickly,” he said.
