Boil Water Advisory

Pioneer Rural Water District advises the residents that reside on Farmhouse Lane to Cleveland Creek Roadon Highway 59 and all of Feltman Road, Bass Drive, Edgewood Drive, Summers Lane in Fair Play, South Carolina located in Oconee County, to vigorously boil their water for at least one (1) full minute prior to drinking or cooking.

Pioneer Rural Water District is repairing a water main break located near or at your location and as a precaution has requested that residents vigorously boil their

water for at least one (1) full minute prior to drinking or cooking until otherwise notified by Pioneer Rural Water District. Also, any ice made from water which has not been

boiled should not be used for drinking purposes.

Pioneer Rural Water District is presently working to repair broken water main an anticipate normal operations directly. Pioneer will post on our website once bacteriological samples results are collected and analyzed. Should you have any questions concerning this notice, you may call (864) 972-3082.  We appreciate the opportunity to be of service to you.

Laboratory Analysis Report Results from Eurofins Eatons Analytical:

Finds No Detection for Algae Toxins in Pioneer Rural Water District’s Finished Water and No Detection for Algae Toxins in the Raw Water.

SCDES Issues Recreational Water Watch for Lake Hartwell in Anderson County 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  April 30, 2025 >

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) today issued a Recreational Water Watch for the entirety of Lake Hartwell in Anderson County after identifying the presence of a harmful algal bloom (HAB). 

SCDES was notified of a potential HAB by multiple residents of Lake Hartwell, prompting staff to collect samples from three lake locations near Brooks Drive, Gordon Road, and Whitfield Road in Anderson County on April 29. SCDES received additional notifications on April 30 that residents spotted the HAB in other areas of the lake.  

Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) capable of producing cyanotoxins were observed in each of the samples collected. These samples were then analyzed for the presence of two cyanotoxins: cylindrospermopsin and microcystins. Concentrations of cylindrospermopsin were below the analytical detection limit in all three samples. Microcystins were detected in two of the three samples but were below the recreational standard of 8 micrograms per liter (µg/L).  

While cyanotoxin concentrations associated with this HAB are low, it is recommended to avoid contact with the water and to keep pets and animals from swimming or drinking from the lake until the bloom has subsided. SCDES has been coordinating and communicating with Anderson Regional Joint Water System, Pioneer Rural Water District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and representatives from neighboring Georgia.  

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a common occurrence in natural bodies of water, most likely to occur in South Carolina in late spring to early fall when water temperatures are warmer and there is increased sunlight. They can persist for several weeks. These blooms can look like bright green spilled paint or blue-green discoloration of the water. With cooler temperatures, heavy winds, and rain, these blooms may begin to break up and die off.  

For more information, contact SCDES’s Bureau of Water at 803-898-8374. If calling after hours, please leave a message that can be returned. For additional information about harmful algae in South Carolina, visit the SCDES HABs webpage and Algal Bloom Monitoring Map. 

As stated in the SCDES Press Release, Pioneer Water personnel have been in communication with representatives from the SCDES to determine Pioneer’s course of action. Pioneer’s Water Treatment Facility will analyze additional samples utilizing a third party laboratory facility to determine if there is any level of harmful algae as determined by SCDES and the EPA. Pioneer will release the results of the testing once it’s completed. For any additional information please our office at 864-972-3082 or visit our website at pioneerwater.net

Dear Pioneer Water Customer,

Beginning in May 2024 you will see some changes in the look of your monthly water bill as well as seeing a new account number. Please take note of that account number and apply it to all correspondences that you mail to us or use with your online banking services to ensure that there will not be a delay in your payment being processed through our new system.

Over the years Pioneer Water has paid the credit card fees incurred when payments are made with a credit card. Due to the rise in credit card fees, Pioneer Water will no longer be able to absorb them.

A service fee of 2.95% will be applied to all credit card transactions made in the office, paid through our website, www.pioneerwater.net, or paid by phone.

With our new system you will have the option to select electronic check for payment with a service fee of $1.95 per check.

Pioneer Water does not receive ANY part of these nonrefundable fees. These service fees are charged and collected by FIS Corporation for processing these transactions. All charges will appear on your monthly statement as L2G* Pioneer water.

We still accept cash payments made in person at the office or through the drive thru window, checks either mailed, made in the office or drive thru window, and bank drafts set up to pay your water bill automatically through your checking account.

We also have a night drop box located at our drive thru window. There are no fees for these conveniences.

With the new software we will have the option to email your bill, or an email alert that the bill can be viewed online. If you are interested in that option in the future please call us and give us the best email for your account so we will be ready when that is available to us.

We are excited to share all that this new software has to offer!  Thank you for your patience as we implement this new software in the next few months to better serve you.

Pioneer Rural Water District