[4/16/03]Flood damage to the city’s waste water treatment plant from last week’s heavy rains will cost an estimated $1.5 million to repair, city officials said Tuesday.

Pump motors that had to be sent to Monroe, La., for repairs are expected to be put back into service this week. The facility that was bypassed for two days, allowing untreated sewage to flow into the Mississippi River, has been operating for about a week using rental equipment at a rate of $100 per hour.

The $1.5 million is for repairs to specialized equipment and installation and is expected to be covered by insurance, but Mayor Laurence Leyens asked the city’s engineering department also to look at preventive measures that could protect the plant on Rifle Range Road.

“We can look at alternative measures and see what we can do, but this was a 500-year event, and you don’t design for that,” said James “Bubba” Rainer, head of the city’s public works division.

Rainer, who has worked for the city for 25 years, said the sewer plant flooded once before right after it was built in 1973. He added that during his tenure the worst flooding before last week left 1 inch of water on the plant and caused no damage to equipment.

On April 6, 8.31 inches of rain recorded over 24 hours caused Hatcher and Stouts bayous to overflow and left 3 to 4 feet of water standing in the facility. Flood waters damaged four pump motors and the electrical control panels at the plant along with offices.

City officials could not say if insurance will cover all of the repair costs.

Heavy rains also caused mudslides throughout the region, closing several roads and forcing school officials to cancel classes on April 7. Winds with the storm also damaged the roof at Redwood Elementary.

The cost of repairs to the school’s roof will be $54,900 and work began this week. The missed day will be made up at the end of the school year.

About 51 homes in Vicksburg and Warren County were considered to have major damage and some residents had to be evacuated from their homes. State and local authorities declared a state of emergency and were continuing to assess damages.