Officials: Cleaner drinking water on the way for Gautier residents

The city of Gautier will be receiving $2.77 million in federal funding from the Environmental Protection Agency to improve water quality and infrastructure.

“This federal funding will help to ensure that all families, residents and businesses have access to safe, clean drinking water for generations to come,” said Gautier Mayor Casey Vaughan in a press release.

The funding will be used to improve local drinking water and water systems and was included in the 2022 appropriations package that was signed into law on March 11.

“The city of Gautier has worked diligently to improve water services for its residents,” said U.S Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in the announcement. “This investment will result in clean drinking water for those who call Gautier home.”

Currently Gautier’s well water is sub-par. The color level is between 50 and 80 units, over 3.5 times the EPA recommended level.

To address this, the funding will be used to construct a one-million-gallon per day nanofiltration water treatment plant on city property in northeast Gautier.

The projected is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.