By Staff
WATER TEST Hugh Smith, Meridian's assistant public works director, uses a pipette and beaker to prepare a water sample from the city's tap for testing in the lab at the North Meridian Water Treatment Plant. The city's drinking water system has consistently ranked as one of the best in the state. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
May 22, 2003
Meridian's drinking water is so good that the city's assistant public works director says it could pass for more expensive bottled water.
Smith's comments came days after he learned the Mississippi Department of Health rated Meridian's drinking water a 5 making it one of the highest-rated water systems in the state.
Smith points to the employees of the city's water department, and other departments, as the reason for the high marks.
The city's water is treated at two different plants, one in the north part of town and the other in the south, before eventually being released into the city's main water lines.
At the north Meridian plant near King Road, Smith and about five other employees monitor the water flow around-the-clock with the help of a computer program called SCADA supervisor control and data acquisition.
Smith said he's confident the city will continue to rank as one of the best water systems in the state.