Water line

installation that will connect Coweta County and Atlanta water systems

should be completed soon, which could also be a big help to South Fulton

County residents.

Coweta County

Administrator Theron Gay said the county recently approved a $46,000 change

order for river pipe to cross a small creek.

Lines are currently

being laid on Landrum Road in Fulton County, part of the east line connection

to Atlanta.

The Coweta

County Board of Commissioners entered into agreement with the city of

Atlanta in order to enhance water supplies available to all Coweta County

citizens and did so at prices less than those now paid to Newnan Utilities,

currently the county's sole provider of drinking water.

The project

involves two connections, one on the east side of the county and one on

the west side. When connected, Coweta will initially receive a total of

2.8 million gallons per day.

The total cost

involved for the two connections will be $4.29 million, but over half

of the cost - $2.8 million - will be returned to the county by the city

of Atlanta to cover the costs of placing water lines in Fulton County.

Under the contract,

the $2.8 million will be rebated through discounted water rates over the

next five years. The normal cost per thousand gallons of water from the

Atlanta system is $1.25. The discounted rate will be 90 cents. The current

rate paid to Newnan Utilities per thousand gallons is $1.45.

After the water

lines are completed, residents in South Fulton County may have an opportunity

to tap onto the lines and ease the minds of many residents who saw their

wells run dry in the summer of 2000.