News-Record.com

Members of the water authority overseeing the Randleman Reservoir project broke ground Thursday on the regional water treatment plant. Politicians and municipal officials from the towns, cities and counties involved joined them.

What will the plant do?

In two years, water will flow from the $62 million plant and network of lines and pumps to Greensboro, High Point, Randleman, Archdale, Jamestown and Randolph County.

Seven years ago Thursday, work began on the 19.5-billion gallon lake. Now that it’s full, the Piedmont Triad Water Authority can start work on the treatment and delivery.

Why is the water needed?

Plans for the lake were first discussed in the 1930s and funded by Congress in 1968. The Piedmont Triad has been prone through the years to drought, and water restrictions that go with dry times. The lake also provides another recreation area and a potential economic development source to attract business and jobs to the area.

Who is paying for what?

Each municipality is paying in proportion to the share of water it will take from the 12 million gallons per day.

• Greensboro: 53 percent, $33 million
• High Point: 19 percent, $12 million
• Randleman: 10 percent, $6.2 million
• Archdale: 8 percent, $4.96 million
• Jamestown: 6 percent, $3.7 million
• Randolph County: 3 percent, $1.85 millionAbout the reservoir
• Built on the Deep River, part of the Cape Fear River Basin
• Has a flow of 48 million gallons per day
• Deepest point is about 85 feet at the damOverheard
• “If a work in progress were defined in a dictionary, then a photo of Randleman lake would be appropriate.” — U.S. Rep. Howard Coble. In 1986, two years after he took office, the Piedmont Triad Water Authority formed to start work on the reservoir.
• “We’ve all learned a lot of lessons about regional projects and just how tough they are to put up.” — Greensboro City Manager Mitchell Johnson
• “Those who had the gold didn’t make the rules.” — Johnson
• “We need to be thinking ahead 50 years.” — Guilford County commissioners Chairman Kirk Perkins, on what regional project the area could begin planning next, particularly for water needs.