Incremental progress toward new water plant

Pioneer Rural Water District has no date for which to request contractor bids for its treatment plant.  But board members and their outside consultants feel progress is being made.  According to Design South, authority to bid is still awaited from Pioneer’s lending agency—the Rural Development Division of the U-S Department of Agriculture.  Design South’s Donald Phillips gave a progress report to the board of directors that covered accomplishments since board’s September meeting.  Those accomplishments include successful soil borings to cross I-85 with water from Lake Hartwell to the planned site of the treatment plant—the Golden Corner Commerce Park.  Pioneer retails water to customers in parts of two counties.  And builder’s permits will be required from both Oconee and Anderson counties.  Until the Army Corps of Engineers issues a permit to draw water from Lake Hartwell, Pioneer has a commitment from the Anderson Regional Water System to draw on the Anderson’s allotment.