Project Scope:

This project will extend approximately 28,100 linear feet of waterline from Bessemer City to the Tryon community, including Tryon Elementary School, Tryon Park and the Tryon Recycling Center. The project will provide an opportunity for residents along the alignment to connect to the system.

This project is being supported, in whole, or in part, by federal award number CFDA 21.027 awarded to Gaston County by the US Department of the Treasury.

Background:

Gaston County was awarded Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (Recovery Funding), as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Eligible projects include improving critical infrastructure and utilities for County residents. The County is using portions of this grant money to expand water and sewer services to outlying areas. Of particular focus are public schools, which pose a higher throughput demand and are currently experiencing capacity and flow issues stemming from their aging well systems.

The Tryon Community, along with Tryon Elementary School, is currently served by groundwater wells or community well systems extracting drinking water from the groundwater table. Past droughts and mining activities in the area have resulted in a shortage of sufficient drinking water and, subsequently, many drinking wells have gone dry. The school was forced to create water storage on site and transport water from other locations for school usage. In addition, though not a primary need, the elementary school does not currently have a source of water for fire protection. Currently the school tests drinking water for contaminants daily since the safety and quality of private well water is typically the responsibility of the owners.

This project will provide a much needed, reliable source of safe drinking water, but it will also aid in fire protection at the school and surrounding community. An initial trunk line will be constructed that can accommodate future extensions into other areas. Municipal treated water can reduce dependency on well water for residents, which can be unreliable in times of drought and subject to runoff, infiltration, minerals/metals and bacteria resulting in lower water quality. This project is being undertaken in coordination with Bessemer City, who will eventually own and maintain the line.