County water, sewer
By Frank Bradley Staff writer
Commissioners take steps to expand water & waste water systems.

Plans for the expansion of the county's water and wastewater systems were taken up by the commissioners last week acting in their capacity as members of the county's water and sewer board.

At the recommendation of Layton Schuh, Director of Water & Sewer for the county, the board voted to fund Phase I for exploring the feasibility of expanding the county's water system by having McGill & Associates, and engineering firm, evaluate three different intake sites on Lake Chatuge TVA property to determine which site would be the most cost effective as well as to determine the potential location of a water treatment plant.

The county is providing $3,000 for Phase I for that project, which if implemented probably wouldn't be used any sooner than five years out. Phase II would require an environmental impact study, which could cost anywhere from $45,000 to $50,000. Schuh said the county currently has two wells in operation with a total capacity of 320,000 gallons per day with a daily usage factor of about half the capacity. The county is also looking for two more wells sites, which could provide for an increased county water demand in the near future, as well as a fall back in case something happens to one of the wells currently in operation.

With respect to the county's wastewater treatment facility, Schuh said the county now has a 300,000 gallon per day wastewater disposal capability and is currently operating at between 42 and 45 percent capacity. He said by year's end, actual usage could be up to 200,000 gallons by year's end and perhaps near full capacity by the end of 2008.

Accordingly, Schuh asked for $9,000 in funding to kick off the expansion project and fund Phases I and II. He said the project would provide for a permit application for increasing the wastewater system by 600,000 gallons and determine the most economical means of disposal. Currently, the county disposes the treated wastewater into the Hiwassee River after treatment, and Schuh said the state has indicated it would approve the release of an additional 600,000 gallons of treated wastewater into the Hiwassee, which would be environmentally acceptable; however to expand the wastewater treatment system is projected to cost $1.57 million, which could be funded with low interest, long-term loans. Schuh said he had a request to add a 60 lot sub-division project near the "old hatchery", east of Hayesville on U.S Hwy 64, to the county's wastewater system. He recommended the owner pay 50 % of the fees upon application and the remaining balance upon completion of construction. Schuh said the sewer hook-up fee is $2,500 per lot, and the money is used to offset the costs of building sewer capacity.

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