After finding out that running a water line to Polk Central School from the county’s Green Creek system could cost more than $650,000, commissioners are now wondering if supplying the school with water from the county’s Mill Spring well system may be cheaper.
Commissioners met on Monday, Feb. 7 and directed county engineer David Odom to obtain estimates on what the alternative route will cost.
The county owns a main trunk water line in Green Creek that connects the Broad River Water Authority (BRWA) with the Inman Campobello Water District (ICWD) in S.C.
Estimates on getting the school in Mill Spring public water through the BRWA line came in at $656, 311. That line would extend up Hwy. 9 from the Peniel Road intersection. The county is currently extending its water line from the Hwy. 9 intersection in Green Creek to the Peniel Road intersection, which will also supply water to a proposed restaurant in Green Creek.
During Monday’s meeting, commissioner Cindy Walker said she’d be more confortable moving ahead with the line during next year’s budget.
Odom said his concern with waiting is that the school system needs to know what direction they need to go in because the state is requiring Polk Central’s well system be upgraded by July 2011. The costs of the upgrades are estimated between $30,000 and $40,000.
Commissioner Tom Pack asked if there is enough water pressure to run a line from the county’s Mill Spring well system that supplies water to Polk County Middle School. Odom said the pressure would be the same.
“Maybe that’s what we need to do instead,” said Pack.
Resident Charlene Boehm said Monday running a line from Mill Spring would likely be much less expensive because the line would not have to bore under U.S. 74. Running a line from Green Creek would require stream crossing and boring the line under U.S. 74. Boehm also cautioned commissioners about the adverse affects of fluoridated water, which the BRWA water contains.
Commissioners could discuss the alternate route with estimates at next week’s meeting to be held on Monday, Feb. 21.