GOMESA Application Details

Internal Project Number: 281432
1. Title of Project: West Biloxi WWTF New Headworks
2. Location of Project: 30.4072, -88.9690 End of Rosalie Maria Drive in Biloxi, MS near Atkinson Road
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, MS
4f. Email: JWilson@HCUA-MS.US
5. FundingRequested: $5,000,000
Awarded Amount:
6. Other State or Federal Funding Sources: Yes
7a. Amount of Additional Funds: $7,000,000
7b. Source of Additional Funds: Community Project Funding; Congressionally Directed Spending
8. Total Project Funds Amount: $15,860,000
9. Project Description/Overview: The headworks at the West Biloxi WWTF was constructed in 1989 as part of a plant expansion and consists of two traveling mechanical screens and two aerated grit chambers. The concrete structure is severely deteriorated from hydrogen sulfide concentrations, with loss advanced enough that reinforcing steel is fully exposed. The existing headworks has been a significant source of odor complaints from nearby residents, and in an effort to reduce odors, has been covered; however, covering of the structure has led to increased rate of deterioration from H2S. The screens have broken teeth, have reached the end of their useful life, and allow rags and floating material to pass into the return activated sludge pumps and aerator basins. The aerated grit removal system is out of service since 2004, leaving the grit basins to function only as settling basins cleaned every six months while grit accumulates, reducing effective treatment volume and interfering with biological processes. The existing headworks is not effective in providing efficient preliminary treatment. The proposed project will replace the headworks in its entirety with a modernized elevated structure designed for a peak capacity of 27.1 MGD matching the original design capacity. Replacement of both screens and the grit removal system was recommended in a Facility Assessment prepared and provided to the Harrison County Utility Authority. Improvements include the installation of perforated plate screens, a new grit removal system, a new influent pump station, and a full odor control package with air extraction and treatment, to protect downstream treatment processes and surrounding residents. This facility upgrade will restore reliable preliminary treatment, protect the water quality of the Back Bay of Biloxi, extend the facility's service life, all while reducing high maintenance costs.
10. Project Goals/Objectives: - Protect Downstream Processes: Enhance solids and grit removal to reduce wear, blockages, and maintenance needs in downstream treatment systems. - Support Regulatory Compliance and Enhance Environmental Protection: Minimize the risk of untreated bypasses or solids carryover into the Back Bay of Biloxi and the Mississippi Sound, improving water quality protection, and ensure NPDES permit requirements are met. - Restore Structural Integrity: Replace a headworks structure that has suffered severe hydrogen sulfide deterioration, with fully exposed reinforcing steel, before continued degradation threatens the plant's preliminary treatment function. - Improve Reliability: Replace aging and defective screens and out-of-service aerated grit basins with modern, efficient equipment to reduce bypassing and downtime. - Reduce Operations & Maintenance Costs: Install equipment designed for easier and more effective operation and lower lifecycle costs, as well as reduce resulting maintenance required downstream as well as in the existing out-of-service aeration basin.
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 replacing the existing headworks with modern screens and grit removal, sized for 27.1 MGD. The plant discharges to the Back Bay of Biloxi, which is hydrologically adjacent to coastal estuarine and marine wetland. By reliably removing debris and grit before they reach downstream processes, the project prevents untreated solids from entering marine waters and nearby wetlands, vital to Mississippi's coastal resilience. This investment strengthens the long-term coastal protection by ensuring the treatment plant can withstand extreme weather while protecting sensitive wetland ecosystems.

(B) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources.: Yes: Rebuilding the existing headworks will directly mitigate damage to fish, wildlife, and natural resources by elimination of grit and debris pass-through, increasing the risk of treatment inefficiencies. If left unaddressed, higher suspended solids and organic loads can reach the surrounding wetlands, which can smother aquatic habitats, stress fish populations, and degrade natural resources (including existing ESA-listed aquatic species). By eliminating these impacts, 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 2027 Advertise Project - July 2028 Award Project - September 2028 Notice to Proceed Construction - October 2028 Completion of Construction - March 2030 Project Closeout - April 2030
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 West Biloxi WWTF discharges into the Back Bay of Biloxi, within the Mississippi Sound, which supports the oyster and shrimp populations the Department of Marine Resources works to conserve. Protecting the quality of water discharged into the Mississippi Sound Estuary has been a primary goal of the Harrison County Utility Authority. The headworks is the barrier protecting every downstream treatment process at the facility, and its condition therefore governs the quality of what ultimately reaches the Sound. The headworks at the West Biloxi WWTF is past its useful life and therefore inadequate for current needs. The aerated grit removal system has been out of service since 2004, allowing grit to pass into the aeration basins where it reduces effective treatment and interferes with biological processes. The mechanical screens have broken teeth and allow rags and floating material to pass downstream. The concrete structure itself is severely deteriorated from hydrogen sulfide gas with fully exposed steel reinforcement. Each of these conditions degrade treatment performance today and place the facility's preliminary treatment capability at risk. Not only do these conditions increase labor and operational costs, but they also pose risk of damage to the hydrologically adjacent coastal and estuarine waters. Continued deterioration of the structure and loss of preliminary treatment at this facility and damage to downstream equipment would impair water quality at the effluent discharge, degrade fish and wildlife habitat, and threaten the long-term health of marine resources. Replacing the headworks in its entirety restores reliable preliminary treatment and accommodates the growth projected for the service area through the planning period. Ultimately, the project advances MDMR's mission by protecting the marine and coastal environments through reducing present-day risks and ensuring reliable treatment for the future.

16. Estimated Years To Completion: 3
17. Estimated Completion Date: 4/1/2030

Budget:

Salaries,Wages, Fringe
Travel
Architecture & Engineering: $1,950,000
Legal
Consulting
Construction: $13,910,000
Site Work
Equipment
Indirects
Other
Total: $15,860,000


Application Submission Date: 09/24/2026
Fiscal Year: 2028
Project Status
Application Status: Submitted
Meets Criteria
Internal Notes:
Attachments:: https://gomesa.dmr.ms.gov/attachments/GOMESA_1432_Attachment.pdf
Hyperlink:: Attachments

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