The Town of Prentiss recently received another perfect rating from the Mississippi State Department of Health after the latest inspection of its drinking water supply.

A perfect rating of 5.0 is delivered upon receiving perfect scores in Technical, Managerial and Financial categories.

The Town has maintained a perfect water score for 18 consecutive years.

“Maintaining a viable and safe water system has always been a priority for us, said Prentiss Mayor Charley Dumas. “To keep attaining a perfect score for as long as we have is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone in our water department.”

Prentiss Public Works Director Don Jones mans the equipment Walter R. Bishop Water Treatment Plant on Ray Street.

There is a full wall of switches for the wells and pumps throughout town, but Jones says the computer is the brains of the operation. Both tank levels and the lagoon are consistently monitored on the computer.

The Technical Capacity Assessment covers the system’s ability to provide proper treatment, functioning equipment, acceptable testing and records, and ability to provide water during power outages. The Managerial Capacity Assessment documents policies and procedures, the lack of violations, and the long-range improvement plans adopted by the system. The Financial Capacity Assessment covers rates, cut-off policies, budget and audit reports, as well as financial reports with the State Auditor’s office.