RWR Director Dwight Wicks said Georgia Water Management Inc., which owns the well water system and has about 30 customers all in the Fair Oaks neighborhood, located off Ebenezer Road, had submitted a proposal for RWR to buy the entire system.
Although the price was still in negotiation and the proposal was being submitted for legal review, "I see nothing, at this point in time, to stop us from going forward," said Wicks to the Water and Sewerage Authority Board at its Thursday night meeting.
The existing well in the subdivision, which is able to provide water to about 55 customers, would be used for other purposes if the county purchased the system, said Wicks. Authority Board Chairman Elaine Nash pointed out that the well had never run dry, even though the neighborhood had been established in the 1970s.
Residents of the subdivision petitioned the county a couple years ago to be added to the RWR water lines. Since then, about 4,000 feet of new pipe has been installed out of the about 6,000 feet necessary for the subdivision. The new pipe will be significantly bigger than the well water pipes - 8 inches instead of 2 inches - allowing for fire hydrants and fire protection to the subdivision. The cost of installing the new pipes will be about $243,000.
So far, about 25 of the 50 homes that had petitioned for RWR connections had signed up. Homes that don't sign up will need their own water source - a well - but county regulations require wells to be dug at least 100 feet away from septic tanks.
In other Water and Sewer business:
Rockdale Water Resources reported 15 overflow spills in 2009, six of which were fined by the EPD for a total of $14,739.
Of those spills, four were from wastewater pollution control plants and 11 were from sewer lines.
Wicks explained that spills occurred with heavy rain flow and weather, and sometimes occurred with occasional blockages such as roots and other debris, even the carcasses of dead animals.
Board member Phyllis Turner asked about the Springwood Drive pump location, which had three reported spills.
Deputy Director Terrell Gibbs said all the sewer lines met at that pump station and that there was a proposal to redesign the station and routes, at a possible cost of $326,000, if the design work were done in house.
"There's justification in spending capital funds if it's something we can do from a structural standpoint," said Wicks.
The biggest spill reportedly occurred March 3, 2009, with 7.5 million gallons at the Quigg Branch plant, affecting the Yellow River. Wicks said he would need to check on what happened that day.
