‘Rusty’ water prompts pleas from residents

For the better part of the past year, one resident has been lobbying for county water on behalf of those from a few dozen other homes. She is still seeking to have service extended to those homes along Old Warsaw Road, where she said well water is dirty and unable to be used for consumption, dishes or laundry.

Elaine Hunt spoke to the Sampson County Board of Commissioners at its recent meeting, the third in the past 10 months where she has pleaded to county officials for inclusion on the county system.

“I want to applaud you all for what you did for the people in Ivanhoe. I know you have a long ways to go on that project, but still, I thank God for what you’ve done thus far,” Hunt said, alluding to last year’s grant approval for a $13 million comprehensive water system project in southern Sampson. “And I know there’s a proverb that says ‘out of sight, out of mind,’ so I’m sure none of you all have thought about me since I came here last. But our problems still exist; we still have rusty water and we’re still seeking help from you all regarding our rusty water on Old Warsaw Road.”

The last time Hunt was in front of county commissioners was in July 2022. She was also there in May 2022, when she presented bottles of water for commissioners to see. Communication with county officials followed — but no headway was made toward extending county water.

County water has been provided on Old Warsaw Road off N.C. 403 down to Moltonville Road, however those requesting water live past Moltonville Road. Hunt lives in the 7000 block of Old Warsaw Road, Turkey.

“You have county water at a certain point, but where I stay, along with others, we do not have the county water. And we need county water,” Hunt said this month. “We can’t drink our water like I’m sure you all can, and we’re requesting that you consider looking into the matter that we are bringing to you this evening and days gone past. I realize we don’t have the number of houses that it was stated we needed to have, but we can’t help that. We don’t have the houses — and there are exceptions made each and every day, and we are asking you all to consider making some exceptions … and to help us out. Because we need help.”

Back in May 2022, Hunt presented county officials with a petition signed by 36 people, representing the homes where she says a total of 126 people live in those homes. The first petitioner lives half a mile from Moltonville Road. Hunt lives four and a half miles from Moltonville Road, where county water stopped. Less than five miles is what petitioners are requesting, Hunt has noted.

“It looks like tea, but it’s actually water that came out of my kitchen faucet this morning,” Hunt said in May. “The water is terrible. I can’t drink the water. I can’t cook with the water. I can’t wash my white clothes. And it’s been like this for a while. I have had several wells dug, and years past the County Environmental employees came out and tested my wells and all. And I’m standing here now pleading with you all as a group to pass approval for county water to be extended past Moltonville Road.

In a letter on May 25, 2022 from Public Works Director Lin Reynolds, following Hunt’s initial visit to the county board, he said he visited the Old Warsaw Road area and “scored the potential addition” of the road to the system.

“The petition identifies 35 potential property owners that have signed for water service. The length of the project is 5.6 miles with one swamp to cross, costing an additional $250,000 for the bore.”

The scoring system used countywide is the number of homes divided by the mileage, Reynolds noted.

“This equates to 35/5.6 (homes/mile) for a score of 6.25. For the water enterprise to be profitable and self-supportive, the board has set a minimum of 10 homes/mile as a minimum standard to water extension projects,” the Public Works director stated. “The minimum score to be considered for addition is 10 homes/mile so this section of road would not qualify for a water extension using our current scoring system. If more potential users are identified, we could reconsider the petition and re-score accordingly.”

Under the current scoring system, this section of road would need a minimum of 56 potential customers willing to sign up. If this condition is not met, several other factors would then need to be met, including available funding, obtaining permits and approval from the water board.

In a letter in the beginning of June 2022, Hunt answered Reynolds in a letter on behalf of residents.

“We truly hate that we do not measure up to your countywide scoring system, but that is not in our control — how many residents decide to move on this road.”

“It was stated that this ‘section of road would not qualify for a water extension using our current scoring system.’ Well, counties and cities do amendments all the time. Are you really stating a minimum of 56 potential customers? Please keep in mind this area is not the Timberlake area or any other area where people are rushing to locate. I honestly believe that if this were in a “different area,” with a less diverse population, results would be quite differently.

“The scoring system is not economically feasible.”

In July 2022, during Hunt’s second visit with the county commissioners, she said the water distribution system was developed in the late 1980s and wondered aloud if the procedures were equally as old. She noted that’s some four decades ago.

“Situations change. Layout changes. Practices change. So perhaps commissioners, if you are using the same policies to determine who can get water and how many houses and residents should be per mile, maybe you should look at updating your procedures,” Hunt offered at that time.

Despite her own attempts, the well water simply cannot be cleaned up, said Hunt, who has noted others face the same insurmountable obstacle.

She was told to consider getting another well. She had two wells dug and ended up going back to the first one. She’s purchased a filter system.

“I still have brown water. So please do not think we are not trying to help ourselves, because we are trying to help ourselves,” she said in July. “I have spent thousands of dollars on a filter and still have brown water.”

She renewed that request to county officials this month.

“Help the people on Old Warsaw Road out with our water,” said Hunt. “We need quality water to drink like everybody else, and I think we deserve it.”

During the recent meeting, Almon Butler of Nathan Dudley Road raised similar water concerns.

Butler, who has lived on Nathan Dudley Road since 1979, said he has requested county water in the past.

“I have six neighbors and their water is the same as mine —so much iron in it you can’t drink it,” Butler attested. “That’s why we’re here, to see what the county can do to help us.”

Butler said a temporary line was extended “only about 1,200 feet from where we are.”

“But it’s going to take at least 1,500 feet to cover everybody,” said Butler. “We just hope and pray that in a short time we can have some county water.”

Board of Commissioners Chairman Jerol Kivett said that the matter on Nathan Dudley Road, as well as Old Warsaw Road, will be further examined.

“Our goal is to get as much water to everybody that we can, that’s feasible and with the money we have to work with,” said Kivett. “As we’ve pointed out, this is on an enterprise system, which is not tax dollars but our water system supports itself. It is self-perpetuating. We appreciate it. I am on a well myself at my house.”

Back in July, Hunt said residents weren’t looking for a handout, but simply for potable water.

“Now some people might think the water is paid for through taxpayer’s money. That is not the case here. We know it is not.” said Hunt. “We are not looking any special favors. We just want assistance in getting clean water like you and others have. We are not looking for a handout. We are looking for a helping hand from you, our representatives, Sampson County Commissioners. Because we want the privilege of water to drink from home.”