Little lead remains in Eatonton’s aging water and sewer lines, and steady progress is being made in replacing those older mains, valves, and hydrants.
Another encouraging theme, somewhat buried in reports at last week’s Eatonton-Putnam Water and Sewer Authority (EPWSA) board meeting, was the level of cooperation among EPWSA and the city and county governments.
Although the hot weather contributed to two large line leaks in July (on Imperial Mill Road and near U.S. 441 and Ted Dunn Boulevard), reports indicate that more than three-fourths of the 176 work orders completed by EPWSA crews involved preventive, not corrective, maintenance.
The bulk of July work orders involved sewer-related projects at the two wastewater treatment plants and 12 lift stations, but so far this year the crews have replaced 113 fire hydrants.
All the digging and replacing produced a couple of pleasant surprises. “We do not have a lot of lead in the system,” ESG Project Manager Brice Doolittle said. “And, we don’t have that much galvanized piping.”
Most of the lead found has been in the deeper main lines being attached by short stretches of smaller piping called “goosenecks” leading to individual homes and businesses.
The priorities recently have shifted, at the urging of Eatonton Mayor John Reid, toward preventive water and sewer work on neighborhood streets the city plans to resurface in the coming year. Ultimately, such cooperation should save money and time for both EPWSA and the city.
The board’s attorney, John Nix of Covington, added a comment from another of his clients who had been struck by the city and county governments here sharing with EPWSA part of their federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) proceeds to get the local share of a $6.3 million infrastructure grant.
The mapping and engineering part of the grant are currently under budget, and bid documents are being prepared now. Work on the five projects could be completed early next year, according to Doolittle.