Pluris Alabama, LLC (“Pluris”) recently renewed its long-term agreement to provide safe drinking water to East Lauderdale County Water Authority and its 3,100 homes. Pluris owns groundwater sources with wells and treatment facilities that produce up to 2 million gallons per day for the approximate population of 8,000 in Eastern Lauderdale County. Tony Cosby, the local Pluris Alabama manager, who negotiated the new agreement commented on the recently appointed new Board of Directors of East Lauderdale County Water Authority Saying,
“It is rewarding to have worked with the new Board comprised of Terry Herston, Chairman, Prentiss Romine, Vice Chairman, and Ronnie Walton, Secretary/Treasurer. All three Directors are local residents with an interest in serving their constituents in providing safe drinking water, well into the future, and Pluris is proud to be a partner in that effort.”
Tony Cosby knows the challenges facing rural communities as he sits on his own City of Rogersville’s Water Board. Tony believes that one of the great things about Pluris’ infrastructure assets in East Lauderdale County is that the water is derived from subsurface groundwater in deep wells and springs. Water from these sources reduces treatment costs, when compared with water being drawn from rivers where recently discovered chemicals such as PFAs are under increased scrutiny and will require additional treatment. In addition, with Pluris’ water sources being closer to customers, disinfectant by-products which occur when using chlorine are not a challenge as it is with water from sources, particularly surface water, that are greater distances from customers. The disinfectant by-products of total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and Haloacetic acids (HAA5s) are formed in water delivery pipelines as chlorine breaks down over longer distances. TTHM and HAA5 are regulated by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) and utilities have to test for TTHM and HAA5 as part of their permit to provide drinking water to the public.
Cosby believes Pluris is a great partner to water districts and cities because Pluris is willing to invest in infrastructure necessary to help get water to existing pipelines that service customers. As an example, Pluris recently replaced the existing well pump assembly at one of the sources with a new more efficient advanced submersible pump assembly.
Above Ground Conventional Pump Replaced
New Advanced Submersible Pump Installed
Ronnie Golden, an Alabama native who owns Golden Construction Company in Muscle Shoals has constructed water and sewer infrastructure for numerous towns and clients for nearly 40 years including all of Pluris’ water projects in Alabama. Ronnie commented,
“As an Alabama General Contractor specializing in utility construction for 37 years it has been a real honor and pleasure for myself and my company to have been involved with all the construction and maintenance from the first Pluris Alabama project in North Alabama nine years ago up until this date.
Pluris, Alabama is a company with management that believes in the same values as my company believes in – abiding by strict engineering standards, not cutting any corners and constructing water facilities that are second to none and Pluris produces some of the purist, safest and best tasting water for their customers in North Alabama.
I would encourage any of the rural water systems management or individual customers that are not currently being supplied with water from a Pluris Alabama facility and are located in a Pluris Alabama service area - if you are concerned with the quality of your present water supply or concerned with all the new chemicals being discovered in water coming from rivers and/or struggling to achieve full ADEM compliance with clean water standards - to contact Pluris, to discuss any issues and see if Pluris Alabama would be a good fit for your water supply.” (Ronnie Golden).
Pluris also believes longer term agreements help in keeping more stable water rates for customers. Tony Cosby believes Pluris’ leadership understands the needs of smaller communities and believes Pluris will continue to invest and build water systems in rural Alabama and customers will benefit in not just rates but also in receiving high quality drinking water from a company that has been a good neighbor.
If readers would like to find out if their water is provided through Pluris or want more information on this article they are encouraged to contact Tony Cosby by email at [email protected] and Ronnie Golden at Golden Construction Company at [email protected].
