Working on water to beat drought
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, June 6, 2000
County leaders want to help speed along rural water line projects because they fear the effects of bad wells and another summer drought.
Tuesday, June 06, 2000
County leaders want to help speed along rural water line projects because they fear the effects of bad wells and another summer drought.
"We’re absolutely going to have to get water out there," county commissioner Paul Herrell said.
There are very few wells producing good water in Decatur, Elizabeth and other townships, Herrell said.
"The rain has helped but there’s still a lot of sulfur in wells, so we need the lines, and then there’s the emergency we will probably have because of dry weather," he said.
The county was awarded about $600,000 in grant money last year to match Hecla Water Association money to expand water lines along Ohio 93, Turkey Fork, Fox Hollow, White Oak, Sharp’s Creek and in other areas to serve more than 200 people who currently rely only on home wells.
The water company and county grant writers are working fast and the projects are in the engineering phase, said Tim Dalton, Hecla technical support engineer.
Hecla also must develop new wells to compensate for the 1999 drought’s effect on the water table, Dalton said.
The EPA will not approve line expansion plans until the company can provide enough water to serve the future customers on those lines, so Hecla must wait on wells, he said.
"We didn’t anticipate what would happen to the water table," Dalton added. "It didn’t change the projects but it did delay."
New well construction should start soon, then plans can be finished for the water line expansion, he said.
Construction on the lines could start by mid to late summer, Dalton said.
"The paperwork is the longest part but it’s just a matter of time," he said. "I know it’s still a long time to wait but it is coming."
Herrell said commissioners and township trustees stand ready to help any way they can.
"I understand the delays but I also understand these people are without water," he said.
There are already some legislators working on extra funding and there could be other government assistance available, Herrell said.
That’s good news to Decatur Township trustee president Garold Cox, who says some residents along Ohio 93, Kimmell Creek and in other areas have been without drinking water for years.
Painter Creek resident Les Evans put bleach in his water well Sunday, just so the family can use it to keep things clean.
"The bleach gets rid of the smell and the rust," Evans said. "The only thing you can do with the water is take a bath or wash dishes and clothes in it, and it’s worse on the smell during a drought."
The county will hold a meeting soon to talk about the water line delays and find ways around them if possible, whether that’s the county’s help in securing more grant money or manpower, or asking state officials for political intervention with environmental agencies, Herrell said.
Cox added that township equipment could help install water lines if possible, or he will personally work with line crews, too.
"I know it takes time to get paperwork done, but I’d like get to work a little bit instead of passing out water," he said.
"We want the lines in and ready to go when they get the wells," Herrell said. "It’s just got to happen and we’re there to get the help that’s needed."
The county will announce the date for the water meeting when it is set, he said.