NATCHEZ — Residents in Natchez who live high above the Mississippi River may think they are safe from the floodwaters, but Natchez officials have their eyes on at least one vulnerable spot — the Natchez wastewater treatment plant.

Crews were busy plugging up one pipe and sandbagging two manholes that directly connect into the Mississippi River, Natchez city engineer David Gardner said Thursday.

The 30-inch pipe that discharges treated water into the river was plugged up by what amounts to two large inflatable cylinders. The plugs will prevent floodwaters from backing up and flooding the treatment plant.

Treated water will now by pumped back into the pipe past the installed plugs. The pressure from the pumps will prevent any backflow from the river.

Meanwhile, crews are also sandbagging two manholes — one for storm water and the other for sewer — that stand below the predicted level of the river.

The large sandbagged cofferdams will equalize the pressure and contain any water that rises out of the manholes, Gardner said.

Without the plugged pipe and the cofferdams floodwaters would inundate the plant and effectively shut down operations.

“It would be like a big backed up toilet,” Gardner said.

As a precautionary move, Gardner says the city is still trying to locate a generator to power the plant in the event the Entergy substation at the port is shut down.

The likelihood of that happening is remote Gardner said. The city has a backup plan to have the electricity fed from another direction if that happens. Still the city needs to be prepared in case that does not happen, he said.

In Tuesday’s aldermen meeting, city leaders discussed renting a generator for $150 per hour from Hinds County.

Gardner says they are looking for less expensive options.

“If someone has a 450KW, 480 volt generator for free they can give me a call,” Gardner said.

Across the river, water has begun to make its way into parking lots behind Comfort Suites, Promise Hospital and Riverpark Medical Center on the Vidalia Riverfront, Mayor Hyram Copeland said.

“That water is anticipated,” he said. “We knew it was going to come up on the Riverfront. At 64 feet it will probably be touching the levee.”

Copeland said the four buildings protected by the Hesco barrier levees are holding up fine.

“Everything is secure and everything is working right,” he said. “We have pumps at the Riverfront working to get water out immediately. No one needs to worry about that water.”

Copeland also said after another meeting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that the levee system in Vidalia is still in good shape.

“We don’t anticipate any breach or levees breaking,” he said. “Everything is still going strong.”

Concordia Parish Police Jury President Melvin Ferrington said the parish will know more about the levee system and future plans for the parish after a meeting this morning with the Corps.

“Everything is still holding well, we just have to wait and hear from them,” he said.