ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — With 40 percent of its work done, Orange Beach hosted a tour through the new Waste Water Treatment Plant Wednesday to show residents what its municipality is doing to enhance the city.

“Inviting people to see what we are doing on a daily basis is key in understanding the issues at hand,” Mayor Tony Kennon said.

Located just behind the city’s operating sewage plant, a $25 million plant is currently under construction. The new facility will be able to treat 10 million gallons of sewage every day.

According to Utilities Director Jeff Hartley, “The new Waste Water Treatment Plant is scheduled to come online for operation by March 2010 and is 40 percent complete now.”

When finished the new treatment plant will have two 2 1/2 million gallon tanks and one 5 million gallon tank. There is also space and the possibility of adding another 5 million gallon tank if needed.

Hartley said the biggest comment he receives is of the odor that can often be smelled while driving along Canal Road. The new plant will occupy about half of the 40 acres, leaving a half mile distance from Canal Road. Factoring in that, and the addition of scrubbers and enclosed headwork that will contain the scent, the city hopes the odor will be eliminated.

“There’s nothing that’s going to help odor more than woods and being out of sight and out of mind,” Hartley said.

The surrounding area of the plant will retain its trees and greenery, leaving an aesthetic buffer as well. The plant will be located on land the city swapped the state for. The state received 60 acres of land, located behind Orange Beach City Hall, that includes wetlands, in return for 40 acres.

Customers of the sewage plant include Josephine, Ono Island and Gulf Shores and Orange Beach residents. However, the plant must be prepared to handle the rush of the Fourth of July weekend.

Hartley said the current plant gets hit hard during the summer if it rains, and everyone rushes to the condo to take a shower. The new plant will have no problem handling the influx of sewage.

The city is acting as the general contractor and plans to save millions of dollars.

“By serving as the general contractor on this project we are aiming to construct the entire facility for $25 million as opposed to the $40 million estimate given by private firms using the industry standard of $4 per gallon,” Kennon said. “This effort will save the city between $12 to $15 million in the long run.”

Plans for the land owhere the current plant sits have not been determined. At this point, the current plant will be taken offline as soon as the new one is ready, officials said.