The county hopes to get started on its Phase X water project within the next two months, Public Utilities Director Gwen Matthews said Wednesday.

The project will bring water to 149 customers on nine roads in the county, she said.

Areas where well water was “not up to par” were chosen first for the project.

The United States Department of Agriculture approved a $1,916,000 loan for the county to fund the project and commissioners Tuesday night approved the letter of intent. The county will fund slightly more than $14,000 for the project, which will be used as tap fees, said Thurman Murphy of USDA.

The interest rate is 3 1/4 percent. “The rates are the lowest we’ve ever had and the lowest we’ll probably ever see,” Murphy told commissioners.

The loan will be secured by general obligation bonds and Matthews said advertising will begin within the next two weeks.

The project covers several areas throughout the county. “We’re going back to areas which have developed since we put mains in,” Matthews said.

The areas covered in Phase X are:

• Kingston Street outside Roanoke Rapids.

• Britt Drive off Highway 48 in Roanoke Rapids.

• Inscoe Road in Aurelian Springs.

• Liles Road in Aurelian Springs.

• Heathsville Road and Piney Grove Road between Halifax and Enfield.

• State Roads 1002 and 1216 to Interstate 95.

• White Oak Road.

• Green Acres Road off Highway 301 to Highway 481 then Highway 481 to Sorietown between Enfield and Scotland Neck.