Courtesy of Brian Key

The Bedford County Public Service Authority's automated portable water filling station cost about $10,000, and an official says the demand for it is there.

The Bedford County Public Service Authority is ready to launch a high-tech way to purchase bulk water.

Director Brian Key said a PSA engineer built an automated portable water filling station to reach county residents who are not served by the public utility -- especially farmers left high and dry by drought.

The lack of rain this summer left Bill Dwyer with a dry creek bed at his Forest farm and no way to provide water for the cattle. That, coupled with a low-running spring, prompted Dwyer to purchase 1,000 gallons of water from the PSA.

"When this happened the last time, I bought a 500-gallon tank," Dwyer said. "I keep it in the barn just for this situation."

The 1,000 gallons purchased carried Dwyer through until remnants from a hurricane replenished the creek and spring.

Construction of the portable station is complete, and Key said when the need arises, the unit can be transported anywhere in the county where there is a fire hydrant to connect it.

"Basically we are ready to start using it as soon as someone asks for it," Key said.

The unit, which cost about $10,000 to build, is essentially a computer in an electrical breaker box with a keypad similar to the one on a telephone.

"The beauty of it is it goes on the back of a pickup truck," Key said.

Key said the authority explored purchasing a prefabricated unit, and the cost exceeded $30,000.

Last year and in 2002, the PSA set up manned fill stations around the county to serve areas hit especially hard by drought. The system was not customer friendly, Key said, because the hours of operation were limited. Additionally the attendants had to be paid for overtime work, which was a cost the PSA had not budgeted.

"The thing that is unique about this [automated system] is 24 hours a day, seven days a week you can buy water from this station," he said.

Between 12,000 and 15,000 bulk gallons were purchased last year. While the volume is not huge, Key said the demand is there. There are plans to build permanent automated fill stations in the New London Business & Technology Center and possibly at the wastewater treatment plant in Moneta.

"The goal is to provide the service, not to make a lot of money," he said.

To make a purchase at the automated station, patrons need an account number and password. A $50 deposit and a $25 nonrefundable account fee are required to establish an account. Bulk customers pay the same rate as customers connected to traditional waterlines -- $4.50 per 1,000 gallons or a minimum of $10 per month.

"I think the county is going to get some interest out of this," Dwyer said. "Thankfully we don't need it right now. It is just good to know it is there when you do need it."

Up to 10,000 gallons of water can be purchased at one time from the automated station.

For more information call 586-7679.