The lack of

water this summer has apparently had an effect on

residents of Peachtree City - in the wallet.

The average

bill for customers of the Peachtree City Water and

Sewerage Authority in September was a record $52.57, far

higher than any other month this year, according to

records discussed at last week's WASA board meeting.

The average

for 1999 to date is $36.80 per month. No other month

aside from September has seen an average above $40.

Average

rates topped the $40 mark twice in 1998: $44.67 in July

and $40.01 in September. Those figures add fuel to the

obvious reasoning that summer months bring about higher

consumption.

But this

past summer seems to stand out nonetheless. In

single-family residential use, consumption averaged 142

gallons per person in September, compared to 84 gallons

per person in September of 1998.

WASA

general manager Larry Turner observed that the drought

conditions which hit Fayette County this summer would be

the most likely reason for the jump in these figures. He

added that it might be a good idea for the board to

discuss its rate structure in more detail in a future

meeting.

In other

business, the WASA board received a brief presentation

from Arcadis concerning the watershed assessment. The

firm reported that the overall integrity of the water

sources surveyed is comparable to reference sites from

elsewhere in Georgia, and conditions are especially good

in light of the amount of development in the city.

The board

approved a $220,569.73 change order on an ongoing project

for relocation of a splitter box on an easement and

realignment of a force main from pump station three.

Turner said the changes were necessary in part due to

state DOT control of Dividend Drive and Huddleston Drive,

where the work in question is being done.