In rural Perry County, Alabama, providing reliable drinking water requires more than operating pumps. The Perry County Water Authority, a nonprofit system serving more than 1,100 connections in Marion, must stretch limited staff and resources across a wide service area. Support from the Community Infrastructure and Lending Teams at Communities Unlimited (CU) recently helped the system move forward.

Office Manager Cynthia Hornbuckle worked closely with CU Management Specialist Bria Hines, who first contacted the system and then guided staff through the lending and documentation process. Hornbuckle said the clear communication and patience made a complicated project manageable for a small office.

“It was very good,” Hornbuckle said. “Bria helped me a lot in understanding what was needed and how to gather it.”

Replacing Aging Infrastructure

Before the project, one of the system’s most demanding tasks was manually reading meters. Staff regularly drove long distances, repeatedly entering and exiting trucks and sometimes digging out buried meters in difficult conditions.

“We serve over a thousand people, and physically reading each meter is extremely time-consuming and demanding,” Hornbuckle said.

The authority also struggled to find funding for infrastructure improvements — until it connected with CU. The system closed on a loan on January 21, allowing it to replace 400 of its 30-year-old manual meters with remote-read technology that enables automated readings and faster leak detection.

“Upgrading our meters will make our system much more efficient,” Hornbuckle said.

Reducing Water Loss

Like many rural systems with aging infrastructure, the authority has experienced significant water loss caused by leaks and deteriorating lines. In 2023, Perry County Water Authority received a USDA loan to replace its distribution lines, a project still underway.

Combined with the line replacements, the new meters will provide more accurate data and help staff identify problems sooner, making repairs more effective. Hornbuckle said the system’s water loss is currently about 67%.

“I would estimate these projects could reduce our water loss by almost a third,” she said.

The improvements are also expected to lower water-loss expenses and reduce emergency repairs. To help cover rising costs and loan obligations, the authority implemented a 20% rate increase in June 2025.

Building Local Capacity

Hornbuckle described the project as her first experience navigating a process of this scale but said CU’s guidance helped her manage it confidently.

With the funding in place, Perry County Water Authority is better positioned to manage its system and plan future improvements — a step toward long-term sustainability for the rural customers it serves.