Rural water supplier circles calendar date

Pioneer Rural Water is circling the 24th day on this month’s calendar as a momentous date in the history of the water supplier to rural sections of Oconee and Anderson counties. On Friday, May 24 Pioneer will dedicate its first treatment plant and raw water pump station in the name of Bobby Stevenson, who was a long time chairman of the board of directors. A near 10-year process to position Pioneer as a maker of its retail water supply overcame a “Stop Pioneer” customer group and a legal challenge from the county of Oconee and two of its municipalities. The treatment plant was built on highway 59, adjacent to the Golden Corner Commerce Park, and the raw intake is located in nearby Lake Hartwell.