Water plant bid opening August 25

Plans detailing Pioneer Rural Water District’s treatment plant project are displayed on a table inside the conference room at district headquarters in Oakway.  The retail water supplier for parts of Oconee and Anderson counties is within weeks of knowing which contractors are interested in building their 2.5 MGD treatment plant at Oconee County’s Golden Corner Commerce Park on highway 59.  Terry Pruitt, general manager, announced at yesterday’s board meeting that 2 o’clock Thursday afternoon, August 25 will be the time and day to open bids.  In the meantime, interested contractors have until August 25 to submit a bid for what’s estimated to be a $14 to $15 million dollar job.  Pioneer received approval of a $16.5 million loan from the USDA, and Pruitt said the Bank of America will provide interim financing for the project.  To be capable of producing as much as 2.5 million gallons of water a day on a draw from Lake Hartwell, the plant is to be expandable to up to 5 million gallons a day.  Pruitt predicted that it will take 30 to 45 days to evaluate the bids before a contractor is selected.