The water filtration system at Alabaster&8217;s Well No. 1 could be operational on an emergency basis by the end of this week, Alabaster Water Board Manager Pete Lucas said.

The $470,000 system will be able to cleanse up to one million gallons of water when it is fully operational, but Lucas warned that the Alabama Department of Environmental Management will have to run a series of tests before the system can be operated at 100 percent.

&8220;Assuming everything goes well, I believe the unit could be operational by Friday in an emergency-only situation,&8221; he said. &8220;To operate it on a regular basis, we have to go through a pilot test which is basically operating the system for 30 days to make sure everything is working correctly.&8221;

Even being used solely on an emergency basis, Lucas said the system would help bring the city&8217;s Well No. 1 back online.

&8220;The water that goes through this system is great,&8221; he said. &8220;It will be a big help towards us getting things back to normal again.&8221;