Prichard Water System Passes Important Test

Prichard city leaders said they've achieved an important milestone with their water system.
But what does that mean for people as far as lower water bills?
The Prichard Water Works and Sewer Board said it has met federal requirements to repair its system.
Sewage spills in Prichard like one that happened in February 2004 got the attention of state legal and environmental officials.
They ordered the board to repair treatment facilities or be taken over by the state under what's called a consent decree.
Prichard officials started making repairs, and now, Board Attorney Willie Huntley announced, "It is my pleasure to announce to you today that the consent decree under which the board has been laboring under since 2002 was terminated."
But, board members said to make the repairs, they had to borrow about $17 Million, and, according to Huntley, "In order to meet the requirements to re-pay it, the board was forced into the position of raising rates."
Now that the consent decree is out of the way, how long will it be before people in Prichard see lower rates?
Huntley said, "I would say realistically, they would probably have to look for at least two to three years before there could be any real rate reduction."
Why that long?
A board member said the rate increase was not done because of the consent decree, it was done to get bond money to loan, and that the board still owes the money.
Campbell Morris with the United Concerned Citizens of Prichard said she's happy about the news, but still supports a state senate bill "to give the citizens a chance in Prichard to vote on whether we want MAWSS to take over."
MAWSS is the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System.
Morris said she believes MAWSS would lower water rates more than the Prichard Water Works and Sewer Board would.