Sparta Approves $34,000 Purchase For Water Plant

The City of Sparta will spend $34,000 to upgrade a piece of equipment at the water plant.

Public Works Director Dillard Quick said the UV controlled power system helps remove harmful bacteria from the city’s water supply.

“What this UV system does is kill E. coli as it leaves the plant. When these are not functioning, we have to add chlorine and sulfur dioxide to use when these are not on,” Quick said. “The reason we want to use these UV lights is because it has no chemical change to the water.”

The Sparta Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the sole source bid during last week’s meeting. Quick said the city chose a sole source method because of the design of the water plant.

“In 1999, there were two of these installed and we had to replace one of them about eight years ago. Everything in the plant is geared for this particular system,” Quick said. “We’re looking at probably $175 to $200,000 to change to a different type of system.”

Quick said upgrading the the UV controlled power system will take about four hours to complete.