Waste Water Treatment Plant   
 Water and Waste Water Service

Tommy Wray, Water Superintendent,
Jon Claude Meek, Water Operator

Jim Dubose, Retired Water Superintendent,

Shane Couey, Treatment Plant Operator
Chrsti Amburn, Treatment Plant Operator
       In August of 2007 the City of Newton will mark its 68th year of providing water and wastewater service to the citizens of the City of Newton. The City of Newton provides Water service to 1841 customers and waste water service to 1788 customers.  The City  provides water from two 1200 feet deep ground water wells.  All the services in the City of Newton have made great improvements of the past decade but none is more evident that the  Water and Waste Water Departments. The Water service improvements included over twenty thousand feet of new water line, complete rehab of one water well, two new booster plants constructed, and just complete a new 141,000 gallons ground water storage tank.

      Waste Water improvements include double the size of the waste water treatment plant, replacement of old sewer lines, installation of new lift station to serve the private prison, twenty five thousand feet of new sewer lines and the rebuilding of lift stations throughout the city. The City of Newton has invested over 6 million in water infrastructure improvements in the water and waste water service over the past 10 years. 
  
  The main water plant is located on Davison Street with a 100,000 elevated storage tank, 150,000 gallon ground storage facility, aerator, and scheduled for completion in the spring of 2008, a new filtration system and generator. A second 30,000 gallon elevated storage tank is located on the court house square. 
    
      The City also operates two water booster plants located on East Davison Street and one on Martin Luther King Street. The East Davison street booster consist of a 150,000 gallon ground storage tank, three booster pumps and a seven thousand gallon pressure tank and services the East Side of Newton. The MLK booster plant consist of a 50,000 gallon and a 141,000 gallon ground storage tanks, 2 booster pumps and two pressure tanks. This booster station services the North side of Newton. The Waste Water department operates 13 lift station and and the treatment plant capable of treating one million gallons of waste water per day.






    


 

     HISTORY 

          On August 13, 1938 the Newton City Council held a special meeting  to make application to WPA for funds to construct and install a sewer system and PWA for funds to construct and install a water system.  By October 18, 1938 the council had ordered an election on the issuance of waterworks revenue bonds in the amount of 25,000 and sewer bonds in the amount of 5,000. On November 5, 1938 the election results were canvassed with 85 votes for and 0 against, and bonds were issued on December 1, 1938.  In February 1939 the first water system rate ordinance was passed and included the following rates: Water service monthly charge was .50 cents per 1000 gallons for the first 5000 gallons and  a minimum charge of 1.50.  Sewer service: A minimum monthly charge of 1.00 for the first four connections in any private residence and fifteen cents for each additional connection. A minimum monthly charge of 1.50 for the first town connection in, any business establishment and twenty-five cents for each addition connection. Meter Deposits were required at Business establishment of 10.00 and private residence 5.00

 By May 1st of 1939 the City of Newton had purchased a 50,000 gallon elevated water storage tank on the County Court House Square.  In September of 1939 Fred Bailey accepted the position of  superintendent and operator of the Water works plant  and distribution system at a monthly salary of 25.00 per month. Nov. 15, 1940 the water system was completed.