GOMESA Application Details
- Internal Project Number
- 271373
- 1. Title of Project
- Long Beach-Pass Christian WWTP Headworks Rehabilitation
- 2. Location of Project
- 30°19'49"N 89°14'41"W Lat: 30.330537° Long: ‐89.244835° North of the intersection at Fleitas Ave and E North St in Pass Christian, MS
- 3. Requesting Organization
- Harrison County Utility Authority (HCUA)
- 4a. Name
- John Wilson, P.E.
- 4b. Position
- 4c. Phone Number
- 228-868-8752
- 4d. Fax Number
- 4e. Address Line 1
- 10271 Express Drive
- 4e. Address Line 2
- 4e. City, State Zip
- Gulfport, Mississippi
- 4f. Email
- JWilson@HCUA-MS.US
- 5. FundingRequested
- $7,900,000
- Awarded Amount:
- 6. Other State or Federal Funding Sources
- No
- 7a. Amount of Additional Funds
- 7b. Source of Additional Funds
- 8. Total Project Funds Amount
- $7,900,000
- 9. Project Description/Overview
- The headworks at the LBPC WWTP consists of two rotary drum screens that frequently overflow at 3.5 MGD, have reached the end of their useful life, and cannot meet nor are they permitted for current or future flow demands. Furthermore, the existing aerated grit removal technology is ineffective by modern standards. The current headworks screens and grit removal are not effective in providing efficient preliminary treatment. The proposed project will rehabilitate the existing headworks structure to modernize the facility and increase peak design capacity of the screens to 23.5 MGD. Improvements include the removal and installation of two mechanical screens, each with approximately 12 MGD capacity. This facility upgrade will provide capacity for current flow and increase reliability of treatment processes, both upstream and downstream.
- 10. Project Goals/Objectives
- - Protect Downstream Processes: Enhance solids removal to reduce wear, blockages, and maintenance needs in downstream treatment systems. Ragging at the LBPC WWTP is a major issue affecting operations downstream and requires 2-hours daily to de-rag the clarifiers. - Support Regulatory Compliance and Enhance Environmental Protection: Minimize the risk of untreated bypasses or solids carryover, improving water quality protection and ensure NPDES permit requirements are met. - Improve Reliability: Replace the aging rotary drum screens with modern, efficient equipment to reduce overflows and downtime. - Increase Treatment Capacity: Manage current design peak flows with a redundant screen to ensure reliability and effective treatment. - Reduce Operations & Maintenance Costs: Install equipment designed for easier and more effective operation and reduce resulting maintenance required downstream.
- 11. Which of the following authorized uses set forth in the GOMESA Act does this project fall under?
- (A) Projects and activities for the purpose of coastal protection, including conservation, coastal restoration, hurricane protection, and infrastructure directly affected by coastal wetlands losses
- Yes: The project protects coastal resources by rehabilitating the existing headworks screening system (which is frequently known to overflow prior to reaching design capacity) with modern screens sized for 23.5 MGD. The plant discharges to Bayou Portage Coastal Preserve, which is hydrologically adjacent to coastal estuarine and marine wetland. By reliably removing debris before reaching downstream processes, the project lowers the chances of solids entering marine waters and nearby wetlands, vital to Mississippi's coastal resilience. This investment strengthens the long-term coastal protection by helping ensure the treatment plan can withstand extreme weather while protecting sensitive wetland ecosystems.
- (B) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources.
- Yes: Rehabilitating the existing headworks will directly mitigate damage to fish, wildlife, and natural resources by reducing debris pass-through, requiring operators to manually de-rag downstream treatment, increasing the risk of treatment inefficiencies. If left unaddressed, higher suspended solids and organic loads can reach the Bayou Portage Coastal Preserve and surrounding wetlands, which can smother aquatic habitats, stress fish populations, and degrade natural resources (including existing ESA-listed aquatic species). By reducing these risks, the project directly protects those critical to the health of Mississippi's marine ecosystem.
- (C) Implementation of a federally-approved marine, coastal, or conservation management plan.
- (D) Mitigation of the impact of Outer Continental Shelf activities through funding of onshore infrastructure projects.
- 12. Project Timetable/Milestones
- Commence Engineering Plans - July 2026 Advertise Project - December 2026 Award Project - January 2027 Notice to Proceed Construction - February 2027 Completion of Construction - February 2028 Project Closeout - March 2028
- 13. Project Timing
- Short-term
- 14. Current status of architectural/engineering plans & specifications for this project (if applicable):
- In Progress Funds Not Budgeted
- 15. In what way does this project meet the goals and objectives of the Department of Marine Resources, which includes enhancing, protecting and conserving the marine interest of Mississippi for present and future generations?
- The project directly supports the goals and objectives of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources by protecting the State's coastal estuarine and marine wetlands both present and future. The headworks at the LBPC WWTP is past its useful life and inadequate for current needs. Though currently maintaining compliance through the use of a manual screen operating at over 80% capacity, the screens allow excessive debris and solids to pass downstream. This results in frequent ragging of clarifiers, requiring operators to de-rag the equipment daily. Not only do these conditions increase labor and operational costs, but also pose risk of damage to the Bayou Portage Coastal Preserve, hydrologically adjacent to coastal and estuarine waters. Damage to downstream treatment would impair water quality, degrade fish and wildlife habitat, and threaten the long-term health of marine resources. Additionally, while the plant's permit flow is 7 MGD, actual flows often exceed this level during peak events and overflow the existing screens at 3.5 MGD, placing further strain on the outdated headworks. Without improvement, there is a growing risk that future storm events or population growth could lead to equipment failures or reduced treatment performance, with negative impacts on coastal resources. Rehabilitating the existing headworks with modern screening systems will reduce the risk of overflows and improve reliability of treatment. Additionally, the increased capacity will ensure future development and population growth can be accommodated without additional strain on coastal resources. Ultimately, the project advances MDMR's mission by protecting the marine and coastal environments through reducing present-day risks and ensuring reliable treatment for potential growth.
- 16. Estimated Years To Completion
- 2
- 17. Estimated Completion Date
- 3/31/2028
- Budget:
- Salaries,Wages, Fringe
- Travel
- Architecture & Engineering
- $970,000
- Legal
- Consulting
- Construction
- $6,930,000
- Site Work
- Equipment
- Indirects
- Other
- Total
- $7,900,000
- Application Submission Date
- 09/30/2025
- Fiscal Year
- 2027
- Project Status
- Application Status
- Submitted
- Meets Criteria
- Internal Notes:
- Attachments:
- https://gomesa_internal/attachments/GOMESA_1373_COMPLETE.pdf
- Hyperlink:
- Attachments