Frequently Asked Questions  

What is the Gulf Region Water and Wastewater Plan?

 The Gulf Region Water and Wastewater Plan (Plan) is an overall plan to identify water, wastewater, and storm water infrastructure needs in the six Gulf Region counties of Hancock, Harrison, George, Jackson, Pearl River and Stone. As directed by Governor Barbour, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality is in charge of developing the Plan.  The Plan will identify the region’s water, wastewater and storm water needs considering existing and future growth patterns.  The infrastructure that is identified from the Plan should provide for long-term growth, recovery, and prosperity in the region. 

What is the purpose of the Plan?

The purpose of the Gulf Region Water & Wastewater Plan is to identify infrastructure for long-term growth and recovery in the six Gulf Region counties of Hancock, Harrison, George, Jackson, Pearl River, and Stone.    

Congress has appropriated approximately $5.05 billion through HUD/CDBG to the state of Mississippi to aid in the long-term recovery of the State from Hurricane Katrina. The Governor has decided to utilize a portion of these monies to fund water, wastewater, and storm water infrastructure projects.  Priority projects identified in the Plan will be eligible for these funds.

What are some of the issues that the Gulf Region Water & Wastewater Plan will address?

Since the storm occurred, the population within the region has shifted significantly. The Plan will reflect projections on growth patterns that are expected to occur over the next five, ten and twenty years. These projections will help to identify areas where infrastructure needs could exist.

The Plan will include cost estimates for these proposed projects, as well as end-user costs, and also review alternatives that could lessen impacts to the environment.  After all proposals have been carefully studied, the Plan will prioritize the needs of the region as a whole. A regional approach can better protect the infrastructure from storm events, provide a higher level of public safety, and support economic development that will be beneficial for the entire area, regardless of political or geographic boundaries.

Who is in charge of developing the Plan?

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality is responsible for developing the Gulf Region Water and Wastewater Plan as directed by the Governor. Throughout the planning process, MDEQ is requesting the participation and input from County Utility

 Authorities, Regional Utility Board, local officials, and the general public. The success of the Plan is dependent upon their involvement and consensus.

 The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has engaged an engineering firm, the Mississippi Engineering Group, Inc., to assist in the development of the Gulf Region Water and Wastewater Plan. The Mississippi Engineering Group, Inc., includes the following professionals to assist with the Plan:

Mississippi Engineering Group Team

Primary Team Members 

Waggoner Engineering, Inc.

Camp Dresser McKee, Inc.

Engineering Associates, Inc.

Local Team Members

 Batson & Brown, Inc.

Brown & Mitchell, Inc.

Digital Engineering & Imaging, Inc.

Dungan Engineering, PA

O’Neal - Bond Engineering, Inc. 

Given that the State of Mississippi will be the Grant Recipient, who will be the Sub-Recipient for CDBG Disaster Recovery funds?

Since the Plan is to address needs on a regional basis, the grants will be made to the County Utility Authorities.   

Does a County Utility Authority have to exist prior to a county receiving CDBG Disaster Recovery funds?

Yes. The grants will be made to the County Utility Authorities.

Can infrastructure projects in any local unit of government or a not for profit utility be eligible for CDBG Disaster Recovery funds?

Yes. The County Utility Authorities were established by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Region Utility Act and empowered to provide planning and exercise general supervision over the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of water, wastewater, and storm water systems.  It is important that local units of governments or not for profit utilities collaborate with the County Utility Authority in identifying infrastructure needs.

Who will be responsible for prioritizing and selecting the projects for CDBG Disaster Recovery funds?

The Governor has directed the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to develop the Plan which will include the prioritization of water, wastewater, and storm water infrastructure.  Priority projects identified in the Plan will be eligible for these funds.  MDEQ will be sensitive to the County Utility Authorities, Regional Utility Board, local units of government, and others, including persons of the general public in identifying and prioritizing these projects.

What is the process for prioritizing the projects for CDBG Disaster Recovery funds?

The prioritization process has not been completed.  However the process will consider such issues as providing infrastructure in under-served areas, economic development, regionalization, expected demographic changes, and etc.

What constitutes an eligible project activity for CDBG Disaster Recovery funds?

Priority projects identified in the Plan will be eligible for these funds.  These projects will have to be related either directly or indirectly to the effects of Hurricane Katrina and provide for economic growth and long term recovery of the Gulf Region. These funds cannot be used to duplicate funding eligible under FEMA or the Corps of Engineers.

Will the State grant CDBG Disaster Recovery funds for projects that are already in process if the projects show some relation to the consequences of the hurricanes, in whole or in part?

Projects may be reimbursed if the projects are documented to relate to disaster relief, long-term recovery, and restoration of infrastructure related to the consequences of Hurricane Katrina and are priority projects contained in the Plan.  Any entity that proceeds with such projects prior to completion of the Plan and grant award will be doing so at their own risk.

Will reduction of existing debt due to loss of rate base caused by the hurricanes be eligible for CDBG Disaster Recovery funds?

No, reduction of debt is not an eligible project activity.

Will facility start-up costs be eligible for CDBG Disaster Recovery funds?

Some initial start-up costs may be eligible for funding. 

How will the county utility authorities affect existing water, wastewater and storm water systems that are already in place and working well?

The county utility authorities will assist in making additions and improvements to operable systems by recommending priority projects for funding. The authorities will provide comprehensive overview and support of water, wastewater, and storm water systems to improve service, efficiency and reliability.  The county utility authorities have broad powers to regulate the design, construction, operation, maintenance and performance standards of water, wastewater and storm water systems. 

Since this project is so large, how will it be managed, and how is it different from what we have had in the past?

The primary difference is that my managing the infrastructure with a regional approach, consideration can be given to long-term solutions to problems that affect the entire region.  Using this approach, the region’s infrastructure can better protect the region’s infrastructure from future storm events, provide a high level of public safety, and support growth and economic development that will be beneficial for the entire region, regardless of political and geographic boundaries.

What impact does a County Utility Authority have over new development?

The county utility authorities have broad powers to regulate the design, construction, operation, maintenance and performance standards of water, wastewater and storm water systems.  If a development requires the installation of a system, the system must comply with the county utility authority’s requirement before construction may begin. State agencies must also receive certification that a system complies with the county utility authority requirements before approving or renewing a permit for the system.

How will the County Utility Authorities be funded?

Initially, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Gulf of Mexico Program will contribute $50,000 to fund each Authority.  

How will the Gulf Region Water & Wastewater Plan accommodate growth in the area? How will they know which areas will grow?

One of the purposes of the Gulf Region Water & Wastewater Plan is to provide a blueprint for environmentally responsible growth. The Plan will consider alternative technologies and input from surveys and personal interviews with elected officials, planners, economic developers, and professionals responsible for operating and maintaining the water, wastewater and storm water systems within the six counties and their municipalities.  

The Plan will address growth in each of the six counties in accordance with the recommendations of the Governor’s Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal. Recently completed demographic studies, which included input from local officials, indicate where the growth in the region is expected to occur.

When will the Plan be finished?

Projected completion time is October 2006.

Will there be an approval process for the Plan?

The Governor has directed the MDEQ to develop the Plan.  The Plan is being developed in close collaboration with stakeholders including the County Utility Authorities, Regional Utility Board, local, state and federal officials, and the general public.  The Plan will be included in the HUD Action Plan that will have to be approved by HUD prior to the monies being released for the infrastructure projects.

When will construction begin on the new water, wastewater and storm water systems?

It is expected that the grants will begin to be made to the County Utility Authorities shortly after HUD approval of the Action Plan.

How do I get more information on this project, and how can I provide input and comments on development of the Plan?

Mr. Steve Spengler is the project manager for development of the Plan for the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. If you have any questions regarding the Plan, feel free to contact him at 601-961-5102.

If you have any questions regarding information requests pertaining to the Plan that you have received from the contractor, Mississippi Engineering Group, Inc., please contact Mr. Jim Hust, project director, at 601-355-3518, or email at mseg@mseg.net.