History of the Scotts Hill Water System(1957 - Present)

Our public water system was developed in 1957.  Before then water for most businesses and residences were obtained from wells.  Springs met this demand for some as late as the 1940's.  With the Scotts Hill area generally along higher elevations between the Tennessee and Mississippi Rivers.  Springs are few in number, in fact there are few if any cities in West Tennessee that have higher elevations than Scotts Hill.

The original system served 43 customers and consisted of one well and pump, a 150,000 gallon standpipe water tank, crude chloration facilities, and supply lines extending along the main streets with fire hydrants.

In 1962 a second well was bored in the school playground.  This was used as an alternate pump.  The main pump house was enlarged and fully equipped in keeping with the state recommendations at that time.  By 1965 water customers numbered 140.  The water rate was $3 per 2000 gallons.  An expansion of 5 miles of 6 inch lines was made inside the city limits at a cost of $91,000.

The customers numbered 250 in 1970.  From about that time until the late 1990's the waterworks operator was also the Chief of Police as well.  For the most of that time one person ran the plant, read water meters, as well as the one man police department.  One other town in the entire state was found with an unique municipal position like this.  By 1975 customers numbered 350 as a new 125,000 gallon water tank was installed near Taylor's Crossing.

In the years to come improvements continued back to back to the system starting in 1984 with a $432,000 CDBG 33 mile extension into Bath Springs.  Contracts were let March 1986.  Included in this grant was third water tank, which is a 100,000 gallon tank installed in Bath Springs, the water plant was remolded and a third well was dug.  In 1987 and 8,000 ft extension was laid on Hwy 100 toward Decaturville.

In 1988 a $473,000 CDBG 20 1/2 mile extension into Middleburg as well a 2 more municipal wells.  That system was turned on in July 1991.  Later on January 16, 1990 Decaturville and Scotts Hill agreed to connect their water lines in the Peace Chapel community.  In 1990 customers numbered 930.  The billing began to be done on computers in 1991. 

A $500,000 federal grant was used to refurbish the water plant.  Construction began in Fall 1993 with around 1200 customers.  By 1995 the plant was pumping 270,000 GPD, and was planned to be expanded to 500,000 GPD capacity.

In 1996 the town was awarded an emergency CDBG Grant to construct 5 new wells as the result of a water crisis in which a number of wells failed.  Two test wells were immediately put into service with assistance from Lexington Water System in the form of men, equipment and loaning of 5,000 foot of 6 inch PVC pipe.  Other people, high school students, aldermen, private contractors donated their time in assisting in the crisis. 

By 1998 customers numbered 1377.  In the summer of 2000 approximately 2 miles of additional water line was improved and extended to serve people inside the city with inadequate water lines and no fire hydrants.  The improvement also served the new high school.  We installed a 400,000 gallon water tank that officially came online in September 2004.

We are in the process of adding a second water plant to supplement the one on Church Street.  The new one will be just off Hwy 69 near the Tennessee River.  Currently there are just over 1600 water customers.

Other future improvements to the system include continued upgrades of intercity water lines, more water storage in the south end of Decatur County, aditional fire hydrants in municipal areas that are not within the required distance, connections with neighboring systems to provide each other with a back-up source and another certified full-time water operator.

Our mission is to provide safe, reliable and cost effective utility service to our city and community.  Satisfaction with the delivery of our service is essential to fulfilling our commitment to each customer.  We recognize our responsibility to maintain the public rust, preserve our environment and enhance the quality of life in our community.