CITY BREAKS GROUIND ON WATER TREATMENT PLANT

The City of Centralia broke ground Wednesday afternoon on the city’s new water treatment plant.

Held at 3:30 PM at the new plant’s 660 Green Street Road location, the groundbreaking was attended by several members of the City of Centralia, EFI Solutions and Kort and Luitjohan Contractors.

Mayor Bryan Kuder addressed the audience, calling the occasion a monumental event for the city, as it was nearly 100 years ago that Centralia’s current water treatment plant was built.

“If you stop and think about it, they were doing the same thing we’re doing today at the old water treatment plant,” said Kuder. “[This will be] a regional water treatment plant that [will be used] for everyday consumption of water. Not only is this for [our] residents, this is going to spur economic growth.”

Kuder said new plant will provide water to the communities of Centralia, Central City, Junction City, Sandoval, Odin, Irvington, Richview, Hoffman, Walnut Hill, Wamac, Kaskaskia College, Centralia Correctional Center, Raccoon Water Company and the Hoffman Rural Water District.

The new plant will produce up to 6 million gallons of water per day, nearly doubling the current plant’s output.

The plant is expected to be finished in October of 2026.