McDowell PSD Advances to Phase 5, Bringing Water to 119 Households

Phase 5 of the long-running Jolo Water Project moved into its final planning stage, bringing McDowell County closer to extending public drinking water to roughly 119 additional households on ridges near Jolo. The Public Service District said the expansion will raise its customer base to about 3,600 once connections are complete, a material increase for a system built through a decade-long, multi-phase effort.

McDowell County Public Service District Director Mavis Brewster reported that design work for Phase 5 was nearly complete and that the PSD hoped to put the Phase 5 work out to bid in the summer. The project has been funded in part through a $3.4 million Economic Development Administration grant, a key piece of financing that has supported previous construction phases and helped the PSD attract contractors for major segments of the buildout.

Extending public drinking water to households on the Jolo ridgelines addresses long-standing service gaps for residents who have relied on private wells, springs, or hauled water in some hollows. Connecting those 119 households to a regulated public supply will change daily routines for families who face seasonal well shortages or infrastructure maintenance burdens. For property owners, a public water connection can also affect health protections, long-term maintenance costs, and potential property valuation along the ridges.

The Jolo Water Project has unfolded in multiple phases over nearly a decade, with planning, design, and construction staged to match available funding and engineering constraints posed by steep terrain and dispersed settlements. The PSD’s ability to move Phase 5 from planning toward bidding reflects both secured federal support and the district’s project management continuity. Director Mavis Brewster has overseen much of the recent planning and will handle procurement steps if the PSD proceeds to bid solicitation this summer.

Residents on the targeted ridgelines should expect notices from the PSD as the district finalizes engineering documents and issues bid invitations. The summer bidding window will determine contractors and set the timetable for construction; after bids are awarded, the PSD will release specifics on service dates, connection processes, and any required permits or fees for homeowners.

Local contact for ongoing updates is Charles Owens. As Phase 5 advances, McDowell County moves closer to bringing more households onto a centralized, regulated water system, a tangible outcome for communities that have waited years for reliable public water service.