Ellijay-Gilmer County Water and Sewerage Authority (EGCWSA) board members renewed an existing agreement to sell water to Pickens County, while also approving a new, second interconnection between the two counties’ water systems, when meeting last week.
The EGCWSA established its first system interconnection with Pickens in 2019 on Yukon/Jones Mountain Road. That agreement is up for renewal this year, noted Gary McVey, water authority director.
The price Pickens will pay the EGCWSA for water was renewed at a tiered rate ranging from $2.21 to $2.50 per 1,000 gallons depending on the amount supplied.
The renewed rate is up from the previous rate of $1.70 per 1,000 gallons, and the new agreement will last for three years, McVey noted.
“The term was reduced from five years to three years to give us an opportunity to evaluate. We do expect them to sign off on this at their next meeting,” he added.
Having a second interconnection will allow for more water to be sold to the adjoining county, but from a new connection point at a different location. This connection point is at the Gilmer/Pickens County Line on Mt. Pisgah Road/Swan Bridge Road, near where a water system expansion project for the Roundtop/Mount Pisgah area was recently finished.
A meter has been installed at the Gilmer/Pickens County line, and Pickens County has a technician scheduled to set up a pressure reducing valve. After that, they can begin purchasing water through that connection, McVey told board members Billy Rowe, Hubert Parker, Tony Whitaker, Ricky Wimpey and David Westmoreland.
“We’re designing this system where they can draw more (water). Right now, they’re asking for a little bit so we’re going to go ahead and start selling them water,” he added.
The new agreement is for the same rates as the Yukon interconnection, but it’s for two years instead of three, McVey noted.
“We went with two years on this to give us time to get the tank built, then we’re going to re-evaluate. Right now, the water is going to be the same price as the Yukon Road interconnection. After two years, it won’t be because we’re going to have to factor in some costs for that tank and pump station and the infrastructure we put in to get this going,” he added.
In other news ...
﹣ Board members also approved:
A $21,906 expense for hiring AIC Inc. to furnish, install and program three new variable speed drives to replace worn-out equipment at the Greenfield Road booster pumping station.
﹣ An adjusted total cost for installation of new equipment, including variable speed drives, at the Cartecay Raw Water intake. The project was started in 2019 and completed in 2024.
There were several unforeseen issues that came up during the construction phase, as well as unexpected increases in material and construction costs, McVey noted. Board members had previously approved $826,622 for the project. The final total cost was $910,396, including the overage of $83,774.