This study is part of the water system compliance plan that was drafted by the Mississippi Department of Health. It aims to bring the city’s water supply back in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. The contract approved $291,969 for Trilogy Engineering Services LLC, which was approved by a vote of 3-2. Most of Mississippi’s water comes from underground wells, which are protected by sedimentary layers. Jackson, however, draws a lot of its water from surface sources. Melissa Parker, spokesperson of the state Department of Health, stated that the majority of state systems just chlorinate their water and that’s all they need to do. Phillip Gibson, Trilogy’s lead engineer and part owner of the study, stated that the first step is to get a plan approved by the Mississippi Department of Health. He estimates that this step will take anywhere from a month to a month, and even a month and half. Trilogy has six months left to finish the corrosion control study. Gibson stated that the test will likely involve ‘coupons” suspended in a PVC tube. These coupons are approximately one-inch wide, six to four inches in length, and eight or sixteenth of an an inch thick. These coupons will be placed inside a PVC pipe. He said that we will run some water through the coupons once per day to stimulate them. The coupons can be made from lead, copper or steel. The coupons are weighed prior to and after water treatment. Engineers can determine the extent of corrosion by measuring the differences in their weights. Gibson stated that this information will help to determine the best chemicals to optimize water for corrosion prevention. Gibson said that the results of the study will help the city determine which chemicals are most effective in optimizing the water to prevent corrosion in the pipes.