Given the population density of Spruce Creek Acres, an equestrian community abutting Big South Fork National Park at its western entrance, it is amazing that the development offers city water and underground utilities.
The availability of public water is one of the critical pieces of infrastructure that must be in place for growth and development to occur in an area. The growth of residential subdivisions can greatly change the nature and characteristics of a rural area, and that is exactly what has happened and is happening in the vicinity of Big South Fork National Park, once a rugged and remote area.
The capital cost of designing and constructing public water systems is the greatest impediment to the extension of public water service into rural areas, with the cost estimated at $50,000-$150,000 per mile, depending on topography, subsurface conditions, economic conditions and other factors. The projected return, that is, tap fees and water sales revenue, on the capital investment to serve sparsely-populated areas generally makes such a project financially unattractive.
Here, Federal grants were provided to stimulate growth in the poorest county in Tennessee, with Jamestown passing this windfall on to its populace through the Utility District. As grant money became available, town water was extended down most outlying country roads.
Tap water starts out in lakes, streams and reservoirs, of course, and Jamestown's water comes from "City Lake." I had heard riders say that they ride out to City Lake and I recently became one of them. The lake itself has a capacity of 3,000,000 gallons. The water is treated, with fluoride added, and distributed throughout Fentress County. You'll see water tanks in town; there's a storage capacity of 2,500,000 gallons. Current consumption runs around 2,000,000 gallons daily.
The "tap fee" to connect to city water is $500 dollars, plus a $50 deposit. Compared to the approximate cost of $3,500 cost to drill a well and the possibility that the well could be “dry,” town water is greatly appreciated!!
For information about Big South Fork real estate or horse properties in Jamestown, Tennessee, go to www.trailridersrealestate.com
There's also a lot of information about the area at Tennessee Recreational Properties' website.
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