Cleve Dowell/Clarendon Citizen
Paxville water future up to residents
The question of whether the Town of Paxville will receive municipal water is now up to its residents. In April the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Department awarded a $3.92 million grant to the City of Manning to create a water line to Paxville. The project which includes a total of more than 13 miles of water line will stretch from I-95 down Hwy. 261, looping around Home Branch, and continuing to the western edge of Paxville.
According to Manning City Administrator Rebecca Rhodes, the line has already been taken under I-95, now the question is will it be taken further.
“We need at least 240 signatures to get this project underway,” Rhodes said.
Rural Development is providing a loan for the nearly $4 million project, with a repayment option of up to 40 years and a 2.5 percent interest rate. Rhodes said that this is a very good deal but in order to repay the loan, revenue must be made from new customers who have tapped in.
According to Rhodes some of the benefits of tapping in to the line include: fresh water from two 300-600 feet aquifers, guaranteed water during power outages, and lower fire insurance rates due to fire hydrants that would be installed.
“With a water main you’re getting a clean realiable source of water you just can’t get from a well,” she said. “With some insurance companies the rates can drop significantly with fire hydrants nearby.”
The total proposed project includes 4.3 miles of 12-inch water main, 2.7 miles of 10-inch water main, 4.9 miles of 8-inch water main, 6,400 feet of 6-inch water main, about 800 fire hydrant assemblies and a one-half million gallon elevated storage tank.
The cost of a tap/impact fee right now is $100, but that figure will be raised to a minimum of $940 once construction on the main begins.
“Right now is the best time to take advantage of this opportunity,” Rhodes said.
A water main would be advantageous for businesses also, according to Public Works Director Rubin Hardy.
“If you’re going to have a business such as a restaurant for example, you’re going to have to have potable water available,” Hardy said.
Paxville Mayor Jamie Corbett said that he has had several businesses that have wanted to come into the town, including a car wash, but that they didn’t want to put in their own well.
“A water main would help attract more business,” he said.
Rhodes said that the municipal water would cost about $28 a month for residents, which equals to about 6,000 gallons used per household.
