Water district announces no rate increase this year

In consideration for the virus pandemic for which there is not yet a vaccine, a two-county water supplier will hold the line on its retail charges for 2020. General manager Terry Pruitt made the announcement this afternoon on behalf of the board of the Pioneer Rural Water District at Oakway. From a one-year old water treatment plant along highway 59, Pioneer serves water to businesses and homeowners in parts of southern Oconee and upper Anderson counties. According to Pruitt, the new treatment plant has proved more “cost beneficial” to its customers than originally anticipated. Pruitt also pointed out that some district customers, because of the economic impact of COVID-19, are going to have a difficult time in paying their bills, and Pioneer wants to work with those customers to ease their plight. The lobby at Pioneer offices remains of limits to the customers and the public, but transactions continue to be handled at the drive-thru.