The Fayette Citizen-News Page

Wednesday, May 2, 2001

Drought relief project delayed...by rain

By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@TheCitizenNews.com

Efforts to provide drought relief to about 40 Fayette residents are running 11 days behind schedule ... due to rain.

Late last year the County Commission, following the recommendation of the Water Committee, agreed to build additional water lines to help residents whose wells had gone dry.

In emergency situations in which wells dry up in areas where county water is not available, the Water System offers a deal. The customers pay the cost of running water lines to their homes that would be adequate to serve only those homes, and the Water System picks up the cost of making those lines large enough to serve future customers beyond the trouble spot.

Water system director Tony Parrott reported last week to the Water Committee that four of the eight projects have been completed, and four remain.

But recent heavy rains have slowed the construction.

Rains also have filled the county's reservoirs, and water conservation efforts also are paying off, said Parrott. Average daily production of water in April was 8.2 million gallons, compared to 11.4 million during April 2000, Parrott reported.

The county remains on odd-even watering restrictions, with outdoor watering allowed 10 p.m. to 10 a.m. on the appropriate days.

In other business at last week's meeting, the committee voted to ask commissioners to approve bidding out air conditioning for a pump house at Lake Horton. The project is expected to cost $40,000 to $60,000, said Parrott.

Bids for fences to protect two water tanks under construction as well as a wetland property on Brooks Creek also received committee approval, and the group voted to recommend that the county put money in its 2002 budget to paint a small water tank in Peachtree City.

Recommendations to the commission will be considered at the group's May 10 meeting, 7 p.m. at the County Administrative Complex.