Water is seeping into the basement of the city’s water treatment plant endangering its electrical system and the plant’s filtration system needs upgrading, according to a report by a consultant hired by the city to examine privatizing the plant.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen Wednesday approved a $48,000 amendment to its contract with CDM Smith of Jackson, to evaluate the problems at the plant and recommend improvements.

CDM Smith, which specializes in water and environmental matters, was hired in October to determine the feasibility of privatizing the water treatment plant’s operation and management and prepare a request for proposals to take over the water treatment plant.

City Attorney Nancy Thomas discussed the amendment at the board’s Wednesday meeting, saying the engineers “have discovered there are some issues we need to evaluate engineering-wise — structural issues, electrical issues and the filter cleaning system.” She said the company is expected to present its recommendations by the end of January.

According to the preliminary CDM report, the main building of the 47-year-old water plant is cracking and ground water is seeping into the basement and into the plant’s electrical room, the plant’s lime sludge tank is leaking and its softner clarifier has sediment. Also, according to the report, the plant’s sand filtration system and instruments are malfunctioning and should be changed or repaired.

The report said the seepage in the basement affecting the electrical room is “causing a troubling condition that should be addressed with the highest priority.”

The water treatment plant has been shut down twice this year, in August and November, because of electrical problems, forcing city officials to issue citywide boil water notices.

The plant has two clarifiers, but one is out of service and under repair. Plans have been discussed to upgrade the other clarifier after the damaged one is repaired.

The clarifier and the sludge tank are part of the system used to soften the water before it is moved through the city’s lines.

The board decided to privatize the water treatment plant and hire CBM after water plant director Pat McGuffie resigned to go to the Culkin Water District, leaving the city without a certified operator to meet state Department of Health regulations.

At the time the company was hired, Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said part of the CDM’s contract requires the company examine possible cost savings to the city by privatization. The fiscal 2016 budget for the water treatment plant is $5.072 million.