The Town of Tryon is now scheduled to begin work on a long overdue water plant rehabilitation after receiving last week a low bid of $3.225 million for the project.

The town acknowledged the&bsp; apparent low bidder during a meeting last week and will officially approve the bid as soon as the state of North Carolina approves it.

The low bidder is general contractor Payne, McGinn & Cummings. Work is scheduled to begin on the water plant after the first of the year, according to Tryon Water Plant Supervisor Betty Jones.

According to the schedule in the bid, the work will be substantially complete in 300 days and totally complete within 365 days.

The rehabilitation work will include the replacement and repair of much equipment, including tanks. In addition, the water treatment process will be changed in order to meet future state regulations.

The plant went into service in Nov., 1988 and was built to last 10 years. It handles 2 million gallons of water per day, and the renovations will not change that capacity.

The town is receiving a state revolving fund loan to pay for the rehabilitation. The loan will be repaid over 20 years. The town has structured water rate increases for several years in order to repay the loan. Payments will begin when the rehabilitation is complete.