Fayette County will spend a

little over a million dollars to save both time and money in the future.

County commissioners have approved Mid-South of Georgia's bid of $1.19

million to upgrade the pumps and lines that will supply raw water to the

South Fayette Water Treatment Plant.

The $12 million plant, under construction on Antioch Road, is expected

to go on-line next May. It will draw water from the county's new Horton

Creek Reservoir, just south of the plant.

Initially, the plant is designed to produce six million gallons of treated

water a day, increasing the county's total treatment capacity to 20 mgd.

But it also is designed to be expanded to nine mgd when future demand

calls for it.

Mid-South of Georgia will put in larger pumps and lines so that when the

plant is expanded, the raw water pumping capacity will already be in place

to supply it.

"Long-term, it saves us money," said water system director Tony

Parrott.