Caterpillar Plant Has Doubled Water Request

Caterpillar will need more than twice as much potable water as originally proposed, but the final requested amount of 150,000 gallons per day is considerably less than the figures the company had suggested it might need during deliberations with utility department officials.

Caterpillar still believes it will need more than the 150,000 gallons per day requested, and it will supplement the amount of water it gets from Oconee and Clarke utility departments by recycling and capturing water in the manufacturing process.

It also is considering drilling wells on its 265-acre site on the eastern side of Bogart, according to Oconee County Utility Department Director Chris Thomas.

Athens-Clarke County will provide the treated water needed by Caterpillar, and that system has an adequate capacity to easily fill the needs of Caterpillar for the plant.

Oconee County, with more limited capacity, would find it more difficult to supply the plant's new needs.

For details, go to Oconee County Observations.

See also:

• Georgia DNR Waiting On Caterpillar Application For Discharge Permit For Oconee County/Clarke County Site