AUTHORITY REQUIRES HOOKUPS TO WATER LINES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 5, 1992                   TAG: 9202050146
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium
AUTHORITY REQUIRES HOOKUPS TO WATER LINES
The Montgomery County Public Service Authority passed an ordinance Monday night requiring residents to hook onto county water lines when they are available.
The ordinance requires residents who do not have water systems and who live within 200 feet of a county water line to hook up or pay a minimum charge anyway.
Residents who have water systems are exempted from the requirement.
The ordinance does not prevent residents from building their own wells or spring-fed water systems, but they will be required to pay the minimum $9 monthly county water bill.
In 1985, the authority approved a similar ordinance requiring mandatory hookup to county sewer lines. In 1974, the Board of Supervisors authorized the PSA to require mandatory hookups.
Earlier Monday, a delegation of residents from the Elliston area again asked the authority to reconsider its decision to construct a new $1.7 million water line from Christiansburg to Shawsville and Elliston. The county is building the line because of a water shortage in Shawsville and bacterial contamination in the Elliston system.
Elliston residents, however, said they would prefer to use springs in their area as a water source over the Christiansburg line. The authority has not changed its decision about the line, however, and is waiting on approval of a Farmers Home Administration grant and loan to begin construction.
Finally, Todd Solberg, a former member of the Board of Supervisors from Blacksburg, was chosen as the authority's new chairman Monday. Solberg replaces Ira Long, who remains on the authority, as chairman. Long became chairman of the Board of Supervisors in January.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB