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Residents on Keith Springs Mountain have cited a need to have their homes attached to a municipal water supply and have approached the county’s Long Range Planning Committee about taking the initial steps to do so.

Cheryl Cobb, 1327 Box House Road, Belvidere, told the committee at its May 11 meeting that Keith Springs Mountain is growing, and a municipal water supply needs to be available to accommodate development and to give residents who have been depending on failing well systems an alternative.

“It’s not just a luxury, it’s a necessity,” Cobb said, referring to having a stable water supply. “We pay property taxes, and water is a necessity.”

The committee discussed potentially having the Keith Springs Mountain area being served by either the Belvidere or Winchester utility systems, and Cobb said service might be available through a utility in northern Alabama, just across the Tennessee state line.

County Mayor Chris Guess said matching grant money may be available to fund the project. He used an example of a 75-25 percent funding match with the state paying the greater share of a $20 million grant.

“There are possibilities,” he said.

Michelle Earle, Long Range chairman, said the prospective utilities that would supply Keith Springs Mountain with water service need to be approached to assess what options might be available.

“At the end of the day, there’s a serious need to take the first steps,” she said.