![]() “Most events are a matter of switching over to backup power,” Hopkins said. When weather or other factors cause interruptions, the NCWSA is ready to restore service as soon as possible. The Capital Improvement Plan provides for additional tanks, pipes and other infrastructure to increase the reach of the NCWSA as the number of residents grows. The smallest pipes lead into your home, and the remaining water pressure within them is the force that propels the water out of your faucet.Īs Newton County and surrounding areas continue to grow, the NCWSA has a plan in place to keep up with increased demand. It takes 629 miles of water mains to deliver 1.836 billion gallons of water to nearly 24,000 service connections each year. ![]() When the water leaves an elevated storage tank, gravity pushes it through miles of pipes that get progressively smaller, ranging in size from 30 inches in diameter to a mere two inches wide. “Demand for water is much higher when the growing season begins,” Hopkins said.ĭrought conditions often occur during these high-demand summer months, which can sometimes result in water-use restrictions. This means that water never sits stagnant in tanks but flows continuously to meet customers’ needs. “Because these water tanks are typically sited where there is demand, the turnover rate is constant,” Hopkins said. These storage tanks range in capacity from 250,000 to 4,000,000 gallons. Treated water is pumped to ground storage tanks or one of the six elevated tanks located around Newton County. Filters and safe chemical processes also remove unpleasant odors and flavors from the drinking water. Substances removed from water during the treatment process include bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae and excess minerals such as manganese and iron. Untreated, or “raw,” water is pumped from the river and reservoirs to the Cornish Creek Water Treatment Facility or the Williams Street Water Treatment Facility for purification. If you have ever skipped stones across City Pond, gone fishing at Lake Varner or kayaked along the Alcovy River, you may have wondered how the water in which you play becomes safe to drink. THE WATER THAT IS ON EARTH NOW IS THE SAME WATER THAT HAS BEEN HERE SINCE THE EARTH WAS FORMED–THAT MEANS WE DRINK THE SAME WATER THAT DINOSAURS DRANK! Natural sources of water, including rain and the Alcovy River, help keep Lake Varner at the level needed to fulfill its full-service potential. Jasper County Water and Sewer Authority.Ultimately, NCWSA water reaches some 65,000 people through these wholesale customers: Each of these distributes and retails water to their individual consumers. Along with the nearby-and much larger-Lake Varner, the two reservoirs supply nine wholesale customers. The original pumped storage reservoir for NCWSA is City Pond. ![]() Newton’s water originates from several county sources and reservoirs. ![]() We are public servants and we truly want to provide the best possible water services to each and every customer.” Mike Hopkins, Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority Executive Director “We take our job and its mission seriously. This separation means that the NCWSA receives no tax dollars, according to Hopkins: “All revenue comes from the rates and fees we receive from our 24,000 customers.” In Newton, the distribution is managed by a separate state entity in cooperation with the county.” “With most water authorities, one organization manages distribution, supply and treatment. “Newton County’s water system is unique compared to most water authorities in Georgia,” Hopkins said. Having access to clean water is one reason that waterborne illnesses are rare in the United States, but exactly how does this resource arrive safely in our Newton County homes and businesses? Mike Hopkins, the executive director of the Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority, explains the complicated process behind delivering clean drinking water to unincorporated Newton County and surrounding communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 780 million people worldwide lack access to an improved water source.Īn additional two billion people across the globe live without an improved sanitation system, such as flushing toilets or pit latrines. It is easy to take for granted-clean water flowing freely through our faucets-but it is a luxury that millions of people never know. It is clear, life-giving and available at the touch of a finger and most of us never think about it unless it is gone. The Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority is charged with safely providing the life-giving resource to unincorporated Newton County and surrounding communities. Clean water remains a luxury with which millions across the globe are unfamiliar.
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