The Ellijay-Gilmer County Water and Sewerage Authority is looking to finish a large-scale expansion of water service to the Roundtop Road area by this May, water authority director Gary McVey noted while giving project updates at a brief Feb. 22 board meeting.
Funded by a $722,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the state Department of Community Affairs, the Roundtop project has seen almost 10,000 total linear feet of new pipe installed since construction began almost three months ago.
“We’ve been able to keep the traffic open, and it’s really been a good project so far,” McVey noted. “Everybody in the area has been cooperating, and we certainly appreciate that.”
McVey said water line has been installed on Roundtop Road, Creekside Drive and Whispering Winds Lane. Next will be the Lakeside Mobile Home Park, he added.
Those who live along the route of the project can still sign up to get service and, due to the expansion being CDBG-funded, eligible customers are responsible only for paying a deposit.
The water authority expects to pick up around 120 to 150 new customers as a result of the expansion, McVey noted.
“We’re encouraging people along that route to sign up. Because it’s a CDBG project, it’s a little different. We not only put in the water meters, we also install the service between the meter and the house. That would typically be up to the homeowner,” he added.
The new lines that have already been installed have not been put in service yet, McVey noted.
“The lines have been installed, tested and disinfected. We haven’t started getting services in, (because) they’re going to get the main lines in first, then fall back and do the connections,” he added.
Expanding the water system has been a continuing aim for the authority the past few years and will continue with a new 5-year project plan soon to be compiled.
“I think you’re going to see some of the most aggressive expansion of the water system continue. We intend to keep on with that,” McVey said.
In other news ...
Water board members Mike Gibbs, Hubert Parker, Billy Rowe, Tony Whitaker and Don Callihan approved a cost not to exceed $10,000 for refurbishing and repairing a sewer jetter that was originally going to be replaced with a new unit.
Although the sewer jetter, used to clear obstructions in sewer systems, is 24 years old, it’s still in good working order, said McVey.
The cost of refurbishing the device is thousands of dollars less than purchasing a new unit, he added.