Detailed bid packages for $6.3 million in improvements to Eatonton’s aging water system components should be finalized and out for bids by September 1, ESG local manager Brice Doolittle told the Eatonton-Putnam Water and Sewer Authority (EPWSA) board last Wednesday.
The federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) will fund, directly or indirectly, two-thirds of the cost. Work on five project areas could start in October, with completion coming sometime this winter.
The five project areas are Dance Road, West Sumter Street, a portion of North Jefferson Avenue, Alice Walker Drive, Old Glenwood Springs Road, and the primary school. Work on each project will vary, depending on the problem being addressed.
Several overall goals arise.
One is to equalize and improve water pressure, which in turn improves fire protection and service to individual properties. Another is to replace some downright ancient pipes. A third would add numerous valves so that a line repair can temporarily limit the loss of service to a single block instead of a whole neighborhood.
Dance Road: a whole new 12-inch line to connect the Lower Harmony Road line with the Greensboro Road/Medical Acres line in a “loop” that will result in water flowing in two directions for the hospital, middle school, and several medical facilities. Hydrants and as many as eight valves will be included.
West Sumter Street: the key here comes in replacing the 4-inch “Atlanta pipe” (it was bought used from Atlanta in 1913). Valves and hydrants included.
North Jefferson Avenue: the project is not so much involved on Jefferson, as to Jefferson near the motel, from North Maple and High Street. An old 6-inch pipe would be upgraded to a 10-inch line, together with looping for water pressure, plus three new valves.
Alice Walker Drive: converting a 4-inch line to a 6-inch in the East and East New Street block, plus 5-6 hydrants and 7 valves for looping and water pressure.
Old Glenwood Springs Road/primary school: The main purpose here is creating a pressure-improving “loop” from a major U.S. 441 line to help not only residents but the primary school, plus the jail and rec department further out. About 10 new valve locations will be included.
Will these five project areas complete all the needed work? “No,” answered Doolittle, “but it is a bite out of the elephant.”
Board members seemed more than pleased with the approach toward getting a sound infrastructure system in place before addressing more specific problems.
“I know it might be frustrating to our customers sometimes, but it is getting us to the point where we don’t have to clean up messes before we can start,” said Mike Rowland.
“We are at a new level now,” Chairman Bill Sharp said. “I’m super proud.”
In other matters, the board heard a report on the 2021 audit that had EPWSA “in an overall good financial position.”
A problem plaguing many larger governments is unfunded pension plans, but the smaller EPWSA plan is now 100 percent funded.