Rock Springs residents get more good news

Rock Springs residents got more good news Friday in an ongoing effort by state and local officials to provide their community better water service.

State Rep. Olin Phillips announced the state Budget and Control Board has committed $179,500 to help Blacksburg extend water lines from an ongoing Holly Grove water expansion project to Rock Springs Baptist Church. Residents will be able to access water from the church once the project is completed.

A severe drought has dried up most of the wells that normally provide water to residents there.

Even with this weekend's rain, Rock Springs resident Larry Jones said the water table in his well measures only two and a half feet. This amount provides 45 to 50 gallons of water daily for his family to use.

"We have enough water to cook and take quick showers. We have to do our laundry somewhere else," Jones said. "We don't have much water left in the well so we have to be real conservative in how we use it."

Jones installed a water transfer tank a year ago so water can be stored from the well to use in the residence. This storage tank is refilled in the evening hours while the family sleeps.

"If we didn't have this transfer tank, we would have to dig another well," Jones said.

Rock Springs Baptist Church has started holding baptismal services again after the water shortage forced the church to stop the practice for several weeks. Church member Charles Dixon recently installed a water timer so water can be slowly transferred over two days from a nearby well to fill the baptismal pool.

At the request of Phillips, the state competitive grants committee agreed to re-open the water grant application process on an emergency basis to help with the Rock Springs water situation.

Blacksburg received a $90,000 state competitive grant last week. The grant will be combined with $75,000 from the state health department so work can begin on a $300,000 project that will connect the town's water system to Rock Springs Baptist Church.

Areas served by the water expansion will include Holly Ridge Road, Rock Springs Road, Ross Road and Patrick Road.

"The state Department of Transportation and Director Buck Limestone have given permission for an encroachment permit to hang the main water line onto the Buffalo Creek Bridge instead of boring under Buffalo Creek," Phillips said. "This will amount to a savings of approximately $100,000. The water services to Rock Springs Baptist Church and possibly other areas should be operational by mid-December barring inclement weather conditions."

Blacksburg will apply in March for a community development grant to connect the town's water supply to the 110 residences in the Rock Springs community.

Phillips and state Rep. Dennis Moss said they plan to seek a state House of Representatives competitive grant for further water expansion.