ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — Orange Beach officials are currently considering a proposal submitted by Integra Water for a wastewater treatment partnership.

Integra Water builds, owns, and operates water and wastewater utility systems throughout the southeastern United Sates. Based out of Birmingham, with regional offices in Huntsville and Roma, Ga., the privately owned company has been awarded a contract to develop, design, construct and operate a new consolidated wastewater system within East Central Baldwin County Water and Sewer. The territory they would cover is located just north of the Orange Beach wastewater collection system.

“At this time the city is reviewing a proposal submitted by a private company that is interested in a partnership related to our wastewater treatment operation and unused capacity,” City Administrator Ken Grimes said in an e-mail this week. “Our staff, finance committee and city officials are researching the proposal.”

According to a letter presented June 12 to city officials, Integra Water wants to purchase treatment capacity from the Orange Beach wastewater plant. If an agreement can be met, Integra says the partnership would provide an immediate revenue source from the sale of the capacity as well as ongoing revenue from wastewater treatment.

In addition, Integra Water would like to acquire the customers located in the area of Perdido Beach, Josephine, Miflin and Wolf Bay. This would include approximately 900 Orange Beach sewer customers, and Integra Water says they would institute a fair and reasonable rate structure for these customers.

In the letter, Integra Water president John McDonald said the rates should be about $45 per month for the typical customer.

Integra would be willing to negotiate rate protection provisions with the city and will provide all maintenance, billing and customer service related to those customers.

Integra Water’s proposal includes the following:

Grimes, however, said no details have been officially considered at this time.

“We will consider the best options and opportunities for the city well into the future,” he said.