Federal government approves Pioneer Water loan

A loan of $16.5 million to allow Pioneer Rural Water to build its treatment plant has received approval by the federal government. At a meeting today, Pioneer General Manager Terry Pruitt read a letter of congratulations from Senator Lindsey Graham. The letter, dated April 24 and addressed to Pioneer Chairman Barry Stevenson, came with an attachment outlining details. The plant is to be built at Oconee’s Golden Corner Commerce Park. The project is to include a 24” raw water intake line, a 2.5 MGD raw water pump station, a 20” raw water transmission main and a MGD treatment plant. The work is to be sized or designed to be expanded to 5 MGD. The loan terms are 40 years at a payback interest rate of 2.75%. Total cost is estimated at $17.5 million, part of which is to be paid by district funds and an anticipated $500 thousand grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission.