Thursday’s Pearl River County Utility Authority board meeting began with a presentation by Roseland Park Elementary student Hannah Rouse on her award winning science project entitled “Total suspended solids in wastewater before and after treatment.” The board also heard from Charlie Rouse about plans to smoke test the sewer pipe system for leaks.

Brooks Wallace, of Dungan Engineering, reported to the board on proposed rehabilitation projects and how to best use a $6 million low interest loan.

Hannah Rouse demonstrated the steps in her water purification process that treats water to bring it to the 85 percent minimum standard required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The fifth-grade-student placed first in her school for her work on the project.

Charlie Rouse reported on smoke testing that his department was conducting to find blocks and leaks in Picayune. So far, workers have found 15 spots that needed repair, one manhole that was taking on water and one area where tree roots were twisting around the sewer pipe. He said that out of 28 leaks found needed to be cleaned out. Rouse said that smoke testing was valuable in detecting leaks and cleaning out the lines is definitely helping.

In his report, Wallace said the goal is to rehabilitate the old sewer infrastructure.

“Basically, we are working with a sewage system that was laid back in the 1940s to 1950s and they have reached the end of their life. We have to stabilize the infrastructure. We are going to go in and video and clean,” he said. “We will line the pipes that can be lined, this will effectively allow us to make a new pipe without digging up the old one. It is effective and less intrusive that digging up all of the pipes. It will be easier on the community as well, with less traffic obstruction.”

The system currently takes on a lot of storm water. Wallace said the major areas of infiltration are on Reed Road, East Canal and Pizza Hut. He told the board that issue is usually caused by infiltration and manholes taking on water. He said that the water is coming from all of these areas and estimates that the loan can be used to stabilize 70 percent of the lines.

A committee was formed that will be led by Tommy Breeland which will meet and discuss the rehab projects further.

In other matters the board:

— Approved minutes from March.

— Accepted March 2014 financial reports.

—  Approved a cash report, off docket and docket items, pending mileage correction.

— Approved SRF-C280897-02 payment request for $55,460 and SRF-C280897-03 for $78,000 for Picayune sewer station upgrade and Picayune rehabilitation pay request.

— Approved sending Richard Vaughan to Collection System Short Course in Vicksburg this June.

— Approved a request for sewer adjustment requests for Brandy Richardson for $247.50, Lillian Fuller for $377.50 and Frank Misuraca for $257.50.

— Approved a post-job offer medical questionnaire for employees, which will require them to report off-site injuries on an annual basis, as suggested by workman’s comp carrier.

— Went into executive session for personnel matters.

— The next board meeting is scheduled for May 15, at Poplarville City Hall at 2 p.m.