Hart forms subcommittee to study Pioneer request

A special subcommittee is being formed to study whether the Hart County Water and Sewer Authority should allow the Pioneer Rural Water District in Oconee County to draw water from Lake Hartwell using its easement. Pioneer is planning to build a new water treatment plant and intake facility to serve its 8,000 customers, but they lack a permit from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to draw raw water from the lake. On Monday representatives from the utility came before the Hart County Water and Sewer Authority asking for permission to piggyback on Hart County’s permit. That request was tabled for further study. But at their regular board of commissioners meeting Tuesday evening, commission chair Joey Dorsey asked for the formation of  a subcommittee that included other stakeholders. Pioneer is planning to build a $15-million dollar water treatment plant on SC 59 near Fair Play in a new industrial park. Dorsey fears there could be competition for water with Hart County’s planned expansion of the Gateway Industrial Park. Pioneer is asking for a three-year lease from Hart County while they wait for the Corps to approve their withdrawal permit. Under the terms of the proposal, Pioneer would pay Hart County $30,000 a year for the privilege of using their permit.