A battle is brewing over a proposed water treatment plant in Oconee County. Neighbors are concerned about trucks carrying dangerous chemicals near their homes.
The proposed site is off of Lake Hartwell, near the intersection of Tugaloo Heights Circle and Tugaloo Drive in the town of Fair Play.
In the quiet little town of Fair Play, there is a lot of noise over something that's not yet there. Neighbors hope it never comes. Resident Glen McPheeters says, “This isn't a simple not in my backyard kind of issue. This doesn't belong in anybody's backyard.”
A water treatment plant is set to be built in the middle of five subdivisions. McPheeters says, “It affects 250 residential lots in the area.”
Neighbors have been protesting the plant, saying it doesn't belong in an area near homes. McPheeters says, “Some of the chemicals we're reading about concern us greatly, that if there were a spill at the plant, it would endanger the people that live there. Even if it's just dry chemicals, it would be so easy to have an accident on that road.”
Residents are also concerned that this road is too narrow, and that it's not built for large trucks to go in and out of the proposed site.
Pioneer Rural Water District General Manager Terry Pruitt says, “This wouldn't be a daily delivery stop. I know they're (residents are) concerned about that, but it would not be.”
Pruitt says they don't have specifics on all the chemicals that will be used, but he says they will be safe. He adds, “I do know we're going to steer away from chlorine cylinders, and I know that they are quite dangerous. I know that we will not be using those. I don't think we'll have anything explosive.”
That kind of reassurance is not enough for McPheeters. He says, “It just doesn't make sense for them to be bringing full size semi-tractor trailers loaded with chemicals.”
The quiet little community vows not to stop until someone listens.
There's an industrial park three miles down the road from the proposed site. Neighbors want to know why the water treatment plant doesn't locate there. On Monday, the Pioneer Rural Water District is set to meet with the Oconee County manager to discuss putting the plant in the industrial park.
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