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WHITSETT - The state has encouraged the town to move forward on a grant application for a small public water system.

Town officials hope the system will be a building block to bringing municipal water to all of Whitsett.

The project would allow 17 homes with petroleum-contaminated wells near the intersections of US 70, NC 61 and Coleman Road to hook up to the water main that runs along US 70. Whitsett would purchase water from the city of Burlington.

Randy McNeill, an engineer from Davis-Martin-Powell & Associates of High Point, gave a presentation to the Town Council on Tuesday. The firm has been working with the town on the project, along with Benchmark, a company that specializes in grant writing.

The water system would include six additional households whose wells are not believed to be contaminated from leaking underground petroleum tanks. Whether those homes are mandated to hook up to municipal water will be decided by the town council, McNeill said.

Tap fees could cost between $500 and $2,000 per home, McNeill said. However, the town expects to receive state assistance to help low-income residents pay for the fees.

After a public hearing during which residents asked questions, the board voted to officially apply for the infrastructure grant.

If Whitsett is awarded the grant, the project would be complete by 2011, McNeill said.

The state probably would notify the town about the grant by November.

Town officials said they hope once new water lines are built Whitsett will become eligible for grants that would help other residents connect to the water system.

A state toxicologist told the town the petroleum contamination could spread throughout the aquifer in unpredictable ways and more households could be affected.

Several residents who attended the meeting said they are interested in hooking onto the public water system. Their shallow wells were hand dug several generations ago and during dry spells they have to carefully limit water use.

"I'm lucky that my well's not contaminated, but I think its just because it's not deep enough," said Eric Barber.

Contact Jamie Kennedy Jones at jamie.kennedy@news-record.com or 449-4610.