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Residents express concerns about water main expansion in Greenville
Audrey Matott is reporting for the Greenville Pioneer on the public hearing held last month concerning the proposed expansion of the Greenville water district. The project would develop the existing water main 2,000 feet on State Route 81 east and on State Route 32 north to the property where a Tractor Supply Store is slated to be built. The project includes the construction of a new water tower on Wickes Lane, as well. The $1.8 million project will be financed through the state Environmental Facilities Corporation Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The average Greenville user will see a 59 percent increase in their annual user cost, from $225 to $358, as a result of the expansion. The public hearing brought out residents who questioned the wisdom of the expansion, given problems with the water quality. One resident, who resides within the proposed extension area, said 30 years ago when her well was tested, the results showed alarming levels of salt and cyanide. She contends the town is looking to extend the water line because it knows the wells in that corridor are contaminated. Town board member John Bensen responded, saying that when he moved to Greenville 40 years ago, his well did not have nearly the level of salt that it does now. He blamed the salt content in his water to the road salt used by the state. He said the decision to develop the main in that area was also because of the sewer. "...[S]ome of the wells are contaminated with coliform. Coliform has nothing to do with salt. Coliform has to do with sewage. Where does the sewage go? It goes down two feet and it goes right along the rocks and into the wells," he said. Read the full story in the Greenville Pioneer.