Homeowner asks Carroll County PSA to extend Pine Grove 2-inch line; board weighs flow, cost and upgrade options

A homeowner asked the Carroll County Public Service Authority on June 2 to extend a Pine Grove 2-inch water line roughly 580 feet past the current terminus so he could connect to the system.

Mike, PSA staff member, told the authority the single-house extension would need about "$850 worth of pipe" in materials and that the applicant would pay the standard $1,500 tap fee. Mike said plans show the last section of the existing line at about 120 psi and that the requested run is "pretty much it's a slip joint." He also said the board could run a hydraulic model if members wanted a formal flow check before committing.

The request prompted a wider technical and cost discussion. PSA staff reported that when the Pine Grove project was engineered earlier the board had approved a 2-inch design; upgrading to a 6-inch main with fire hydrants would raise materials and installation costs substantially. Staff gave a rough range: about $15,000 in materials for keeping a 2-inch approach versus roughly $80,000 or more for a 6-inch main with multiple hydrants. A staff estimate cited "15,000 in materials" for a 2-inch scenario and an $80,000 estimate for a larger, hydrant-equipped build-out.

Board members asked how many houses currently could be served by the 2-inch line. Mike said there were originally eight or nine signups for service in that stretch but currently about four homes appeared likely to connect; he said the authority would need to revisit door-to-door outreach to confirm demand. Staff also noted a separate meter placed at the end of an earlier phase is not currently in use by the parcel owner.

Rather than decide on an immediate upgrade, the board directed staff to follow up. A board member asked that Mr. Moore speak with the homeowner and report back by the next meeting; another member asked Tracy, PSA staff, to provide her engineering opinion about whether the 2-inch line would meet expected demand. The board did not alter the existing engineered 2-inch decision at the meeting.

Why it matters: The choice between a lower-cost 2-inch main and a higher-cost 6-inch main affects upfront costs, future hookups and fire protection infrastructure for Pine Grove-area residents. The authority signaled it will gather engineering analysis and firm cost information before deciding.

The board will revisit the request at its next meeting after staff follow-up and any hydraulic modeling the engineers provide.