Oxford, Mississippi: Punkin Water Customers Ready for a City Water Upgrade

In a promising turn of events for some residents of Oxford, Mississippi, customers of the Punkin Water Association could soon enjoy the benefits of Oxford city water connections.

Road to Upgradation

The first steps towards the integration of the city water supply were marked by the initiation of a major extension project conducted by Eubank Construction Co. several months ago. Project completion, originally planned for a earlier date, was pushed back due to unforeseen difficulties – chiefly, the substantial rocks and cement in the construction route.

The most challenging part of this process, perhaps – the portion of pipe running under a bridge on Highway 6 East and spanning a creek east of Brittany Woods – has now been successfully completed. The remainder of the project calls for the contractor to install the connection to the city’s existing water infrastructure and the freshly installed pipe.

The Next Steps

John Crawley, City Engineer, expressed his optimism, stating, “The contractor should make the connection between existing city infrastructure and the new Punkin supply line at the creek (this) week, weather permitting, bringing city water up to the County Road 217 (Campground Road) area.”

However, he added that a secondary project to install a booster pump that will carry city water to the elevated tank is not yet completed. As such, customers located to the east will have to wait a little longer before the city water facilities come online. Nonetheless, according to Crawley, these delays aren’t extensive: city officials estimate a completion timeline of “this summer.”

Addressing Long-Standing Concerns

City water alignment for Punkin Water customers has been a long-standing need. Customers of the Punkin Water Association have grappled with under-par water quality for a lengthy duration. Noticing these concerns, the Oxford Board of Aldermen green-lit a proposal to acquire the Punkin water system to boost the water quality of their customers back in 2022, and the project is now reaching its conclusion.

Looking Forward

Although the project presented its set of challenges due to geological factors, the comprehensive and tireless efforts of the construction team and the city authorities have ensured that the primary development is close to completion. The integration of the city water system with the Punkin Water Association heralds a new era for water quality, security and reliability for customers who had been yearning for this change for years.

The project not only stands as proof of the city’s responsiveness to its residents’ concerns but also as a testament to its commitment to uplifting the quality of life and utilities for its people. As the city water lines inch closer to full functionality, the future for these residents looks cleaner, safer, and brighter.