Roughly half of the population of the Town of Summerfield is absolutely horrified by the notion of having any water system replace its current well water system because that might help bring major development to the municipality, which formed itself largely so that it wouldn’t get gobbled up by the City of Greensboro – and the residents could therefore continue to enjoy the peaceful, tranquil benefits of small-town living.
The residents of Pleasant Garden, on the other hand, haven’t shown themselves to have an ounce of city water-fright over the years; and, in fact, the small town that exists in a different part of Guilford County, has, in the past, been eager to enjoy the benefits of a true water system.
Well, at the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Thursday, Oct.17 meeting, the commissioners plan to approve an agreement that will provide the funding to the Town of Pleasant Garden to move forward with “Phase 1” of the “Pleasant Garden Business District Water and Sewer Infrastructure Project.”
The board will approve an interlocal agreement with the Town of Pleasant Garden and authorize County Manager Mike Halford, or his staff, to enter into an agreement, with the town in the amount of $5.5 million to support Phase 1 of the small town’s business district water and sewer project.
This has been in the works for a long time and it will continue to be – since Phase 1 won’t be complete until about three years from now.
During a Guilford County Board of Commissioners work session in August of 2022, the commissioners voted to allocate $5.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act money to Pleasant Garden that would allow the town to begin a water and sewer infrastructure project.
Also, the State of North Carolina allocated over $5 million – through the state’s Operations Appropriations Act of 2023 – to the City of Greensboro for Pleasant Garden’s water and sewer infrastructure project.
This first phase of the project includes the installation of 16,500 linear feet – or about 3.1 miles – of 16-inch diameter water main pipe down a key section of Pleasant Garden Road.
Phase 1 of the project may also include things like a gravity-driven sewer, a pressurized sewer pipe, a pump station built to move sewage, and protective coverings for water pipes.
These details will be decided as the project design is completed in the coming months.
The new Pleasant Garden water system will connect to Greensboro’s system at Ritters Lake Road.
This small town system – delivering 3,000 gallons per minute – will provide enough water to carry out light industrial fire protection.
And it will be able to meet a total water demand of about 1 million gallons a day.
The project will take place from October 2024 to December 31, 2027.
According to the current schedule, getting permits, designing, and finding contractors will happen between October 2024 and June 2026.
Plans call for construction to start in August of 2026 and be finished by September 2027.
Last month, the Town of Pleasant Garden and the City of Greensboro signed onto an interlocal understanding called the “Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for Water and Sewer Services.”
That agreement will govern the implementation of the water infrastructure project for the small town with very big plans.
Last week, the Pleasant Garden Town Council approved the interlocal agreement with Guilford County.
You compare people who are “… absolutely horrified by the notion of having any water system replace its current well water system” with others who are “… eager to enjoy the benefits of a true water system.”
I’ve lived in places with a “true water system” and I can’t tell you how much I value our “current well water system”. I would be “absolutely horrified by the notion of having … a true water system” replace it. When I’m in an area with city water I drink bottled water, otherwise I end up spending a few hours at a medical clinic getting antibiotics for a UTI. I have a medical condition that causes my bladder to be very sensitive to foods and liquids and something about the chemicals in city water causes problems. I despise the taste of city water with its chemicals and flatness. There’s no comparison to a really cold glass of our well water on a summer day, pure water, no chemicals, and so refreshing. It’s enjoyable to drink throughout the day and not want any other beverage.
I don’t ever want to have to drink city water again. It’s not a “true water system”. True water comes from the ground, like a well or river, not from a water treatment plant where it’s been chemically treated. I agree with half the people of Summerfield. That’s why some of us chose to live in the county and not the city.
Sounds like a true neurotic, whine on.
So Just exactly what are the big plans in Pleasant Garden? To bring in water and sewer to an area like Pleasant Garden usually means high density neighborhoods or large apartment complexes. There isn’t any large industrial complex so what is the true need for such a large expansion project? Sounds like there is a lot of information not being made to the citizens of Pleasant Garden and nothing good can come out of getting in bed with the City of Greensboro.
I had a “true water system” when my house had a Greensboro address but was just outside the city limit. This was an excuse for Greensboro to bill me monthly (not quarterly) and charge me double what Greensboro residents paid.
My last monthly bill for Water & sewer was $75.00 – in 2004.
Over the last 20 years I’ve had to have my septic tank pumped three times at a total cost of $700.
This means that I’ve saved over $25,000 in the last 20 years by having a well & septic (including rate raises).
And the water is beautifully clean and unadulterated. It makes the best tea ever.
So you can keep your “true water system”. I’m just fine without it.
Jack, aka Pleasant Garden,has slain the Giant, aka GSO. For so long they would say ‘sure, we’ll give you water…if you become unincorporated.’
The majority of residents aren’t asking for city water all over, we want it for our business district so we can have a more vibrant, growing district. As Deborah was saying, they like their well water and want to keep it.
I personally believe if the Toyota plant had not gone in, GSO would still be telling the same thing over and over.
Wrong assumption! No one will sell Summerfield water because they need municipal water for their own development. We want to protect our existing wells.
Greensboro will not sell water to Summerfield for years, and prohibitive cost to go around or under wetlands and more between Greensboro and Summerfield. One estimate is 7 year wait. Summerfield council is doing nothing to protect existing wells–that is serious. Actually harming exisitng wells. Devaney, heath Clay, Janelle and Doggett all in to build $2+ million huge water tower on town property with $2million value–any development that will merge wells and/or greatly harm wells in any area of the town should be put to REFERENDUM or STOPPED NOW. Even worse those council members want to merge existing wells. Devaney said ok to build water tower so town is ready in 7 years.
Their water contractor looks at Summerfield as his annuity. Cost? They don’t care.
Serious no protection for existing wells..
Do you want a huge water tower — they are so excited about the secret design.
City water has a “flavor” of it’s own. Like a science experiment. I had our tap water checked one time. It was deemed “potable”. I use filtered or distilled water for drinking/cooking.
well water around our airport has been contaminated by PFOS/PFAS – ‘potable’ water testing is just checking for bacteria (feces) contamination ?
I think it means that you can drink it, and nothing else. We are not far from the tank farm near the airport. I thot the water tasted as it would be fuel of some kind, like gasoline, diesel, etc.
Greensboro taxpayers should be horrified. Rumors are Greensboro City Council is about to annex 1000 acres in the middle of Summerfield for ONE already rich, Montana land barron, David Couch. So Greensboro taxpayers pay $50 ,$75 MILLION or more to build those water and sewer lines across wetlands JUST ONE MAN’S Property in Summerfield! So he can build more and profit more. And Greensboro will then pay for Couch’s roads, emergency services, etc forever. WAKE UP GREENSBORO! Your Council likes rich developers more than citizens!
83% (way more than half) of Summerfield citizens do not want city water and sewer according to a 2023 survey of a large number of town residents. But developer David Couch, owner of 1000 acres in the town limits of Summerfield, has wanted Greensboro residents to pay for sewer and water utilities to his 1000 acres for years. When he couldn’t get Greensboro to agree, he “donated” funds to Phil Berger and other Raleigh legislators to buy his land “out” of Summerfield so Greensboro would annex him. Why? Greesnboro residents get to pay for his water and sewer utilities, skyrocketing his land value and profit. Maybe Rhino should look into what’s going on behind closed doors in Greensboro since Couch seems to have a way of “donating” his way to getting politicians to do his bidding.
If the fix is in, this shows you how government works to the advantage of a few.
Isn’t it true that a large number of wells is Summerfield are contaminated? Isn’t there a large amount of land that is contaminated? Isn’t it true that the county could condemn about 75% of Summerfield if they wanted to, due to unfit drinking water?
Slummerfield is in bad shape when it comes to environmental issues. That property is too close to the airport and too much jet fuel has contaminated the property? Isn’t that true?
No.
PFASs are “forever”. In the enviornment everywhere, including us, ie sharks, killer whales, seals, Atlantic cod. If you research PFAS, you will learn of the myriad of applications being used with this artificial compound. Continually worsening by the day. Among several reasons, why do you think that over 70% of the applicants to join the military are rejected?
Slummerfield needs the water worse than pleasant garden! The well water there is terrible! Too much jet fuel dumped as jets fly over, and the tank farm. How can homes in Slummerfield have any value?
It’s a miracle that they sell for close to a million Dollars, ain’t it?