New line will improve water access in rural areas

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Warren County Utility District general manager Mike Green shows the plans for a project to extend water lines into several rural areas of the county. The project will add 71,100 feet of new line to the system. (Charles W. Johnson photo)

Some residents in rural Warren County will have access to a more reliable water supply in the near future, according to Warren County Utility District general manager Mike Green. The utility is putting the final touches on utilizing grant money and a government loan to install 71,100 linear feet of water line in various parts of the county.

Money for the project will come from a federal grant to the county totaling $477,000, a $118,000 grant from Rural Development District, along with a $200,000 loan from Rural Development which will be paid out over 38 years. Borrowing the $200,000 from Rural Development resulted in obtaining the $118,000 grant from the organization.

The combined grants and loan will provide the utility with $795,000 to install the water line extensions around the county.

Residents on several roads will benefit from the new water lines, including Haletown Lane, McMillen Road, John Oliver Road, Womack Road, Dibrell Lucky Road, Pleasant Hill Road, R.G. Kirby Road, Northcutts Cove, Petigap Road, Frazier Lane and Neal Medley Road.

The project will be completed in a relatively short period according to Green.

“It takes approximately six months to install,” Green said. “And we’re going to install it ourselves,” he added. “There won’t be a contractor doing this. We’ve started installing our own lines over the last couple of years.”

Green estimates the construction will begin sometime around the middle of August.

“We would just like to get some information out to the public,” Green said. “The tap fees for the ones who have not bought their taps yet are $750 for a 3/4-inch tap, with a $50 meter deposit. This will be the amount for the taps until September 1, and then the fees will go up to $1,000.”

Green also said some rural residents may qualify for free taps depending on their income and the number of people in the household, though the $50 tap fee would still apply. Those interested in applying for low-income assistance should contact the Warren County Utility District for information on how to apply.

Some of the locals have reported they are very pleased with the prospect of having a new water source.

“That’s the greatest thing that’s ever happened to us,” said Kenneth Bratcher, who lives on Petigap Road. “We all need it so bad, all us people out there on that road. We’re either on an old spring or a well that’s not really sufficient for the water we need. It’s like, you either put off taking a bath or doing your wash, you know,” he said with a grin.

County officials were also pleased to obtain the grant money.

“I’m always excited when we can bring in these grant dollars to benefit and improve the quality of life for the people of Warren County,” said County Executive Carol Hamblen. “I was fortunate enough to be involved in all levels of the grant preparation including the door-to-door visits as we were developing the number of people who needed water.”

As to Mr. Bratcher’s comment, she said, “We’re really excited and know that Warren Utility will get these pipes in the ground soon and people like Kenneth can do their laundry at home.”