Sunflower County is trying to keep the water clean in Rome During Monday’s Sunflower County Board of Supervisors meeting, Emergency Management Director Mitch Ramage presented to the board a proclamation of existence of a local emergency in Rome, where a water tank ruptured, causing a boil water notice. Water was purchased for Rome last Thursday by the county’s emergency management agency. Ramage said, “Their water tank ruptured Thursday, I guess, and we have gotten them squared away. We did get water to them. I spoke with them Friday and they were working on bypassing the tank.” Ramage explained to the board that he spoke with someone, and they have the water going, and they have introduced chlorine into the system. Ramage said, “They are taking a sample to Jackson to make sure they do not have to do the boil water anymore. They are running pretty well right now.” District 1 Supervisor Glenn Donald asked if the tank that houses the water and purifies it busted. Ramage said, “It busted.” Donald asked if a new tank would be available soon for Rome. Ramage explained to him that likely would not happen in the near future. Officials are working on it. Donald said, “So, how are they getting water?” Ramage said, “They can bypass the tank.” Ramage told the board that he submitted the declaration just in case the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency would have to bring water to Rome. Ramage said, “They are running okay right now but that could change.” Donald asked, “What would a tank cost where you can just set them in place?” Ramage said, “I have no clue what they would cost. Right now, they are bypassing it and they are going to take a sample of the water to Jackson to see if they can lift the boil water notice. And it would go from there.” Board President Gloria Dickerson asked Ramage if MEMA would have to be involved right now. Ramage said, “No, I just wanted to put this in place in case we do.” Donald asked how to purify the water and apply chlorine if it doesn’t go through the tank. Ramage said, “It goes before the tank. The tank just stores the water. It is just pushing through and bypasses the tank. I am not a water man. I am just telling you all what I was told.” Ramage told the board that the tank had been there for many years and that it was an old tank. The board approved the emergency proclamation in case MEMA is needed to bring water.
