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Allen Worrell

Editor

After approximately two years of negotiations, the Carroll County-Mount Airy (N.C.) water agreement that will serve Interstate 77’s Exit 1 near Lambsburg has finally come to fruition.

Carroll County Public Service Authority (PSA) Executive Director Gary Larrowe told the Authority of the agreement during its Dec. 12 meeting.

“Another Christmas present the PSA has received is the final approval of the Mount Airy water agreement. This is the first time it has ever been approved,” Larrowe said. “Although we do not have the executed documents back, I did have a personalized call from the City Manager of Mount Airy…She went ahead and told me about it, so we are very happy to move forward with the Exit 1 project.”

The agreement will help Carroll County serve approximately 40 new residential customers with water, as well as the businesses along Exit 1 near Lambsburg. The agreement allows Carroll County to connect to a Mount Airy City-owned water tank in the Lambsburg area. Carroll will be able to use up to 9,999 gallons per day from the tank, which the PSA would augment with two wells it has in the area. It may need to punch another well to satisfy demand, Larrowe has said previously.

As part of an agreement between the City of Mount Airy, the Virginia Department of Transportation and the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Mount Airy would sell the PSA potable drinking water up to a maximum of 9,999 gallons per day until Nov. 10, 2018. Once that agreement expires, the PSA could purchase up to 99,999 gallons per day provided that Mount Airy shall not be required to furnish the PSA any amount in excess of 3 million gallons per month.

According to the agreement, amounts would be measured through a master meter at Surratt Drive and Imogene Road. Included water rates indicate a monthly charge of $3.08 per account, with monthly minimum charges based on meter sizes. Ranges begin at $20.30 for three-fourths of an inch up to $1,624 for eight inches.

Monthly rates per thousand gallons are listed as $4.46 for zero to 2,000 gallons, $6.28 for 2,001 to 1 million gallons, and $5.38 for more than 1 million gallons. Rural Development requires at least a 40-year loan for the agreement, Larrowe added.