The Coweta County Board of Commissioners took a step Tuesday to ensure the county will have enough water to handle the county's ever-expanding population.

The board approved placing two water storage tanks in two high-growth areas after the county's water director, Harry Hughes, said the need was getting serious for additional capacity.

The tanks will be placed in the Canongate community on the northeastern side of the county, and near East Coweta Middle School in the eastern part of the county. The county currently has a 100,000-gallon golf-ball-shaped storage tank in Canongate, but Hughes said there is a tremendous need for more storage.

The county leaders have been grappling with ways to provide water to the fastest-growing areas of the county. The new tank in the eastern part of the county should dovetail with the county's plan to purchase water from Spalding County.

Commissioner Vernon "Mutt" Hunter and Hughes have been in negotiations with Spalding officials to run a water line to the county's boundary at Line Creek. The county would then tap onto the line and provide water for residents south of Ga. Highway 85 near the Haralson community.

Hughes originally asked for two 500,000-gallon capacity tanks, but Hunter asked the board to consider million-gallon tanks because of the county's growth rate. The cost for the 500,000-gallon tank is pegged at $500,000, while the million-gallon tank would cost $800,000.

If the county had to purchase additional 500,000 gallon tanks to meet the demand, the cost would be $200,000 more than if the county opts for the larger tanks, Hunter said.