Southington water OK’d
District now looks for fundingBy RAYMOND L. SMITH Tribune Chronicle
WARREN - Getting court approval to establish a water district likely will be the easy part, Judge Andrew Logan warned Southington Township trustees on Thursday.
The judge gave the township final approval for a water district, which allows it to attempt to get state and federal funding to bring water and sewerlines to the southwestern portion of Trumbull County.
"The trustees have already filed applications for grants to the USDA and the Environmental Protection Agency," Trustee Sam Plott said. "Now that the judge has approved the district, it will be up to the Water District Board to move this project forward."
Rob Gilanyi, vice chairman of the Water District Board of Trustees, said Southington is so far removed from the Trumbull County water and sewer system that the county cannot afford to place the new system.
"We were told by our engineers that once we have the funding in place, we should have water within six months of a contract," Plott said.
In court testimony, trustees told the common pleas judge that water quality in the township varies from undrinkable in certain areas to having some very usable wells in other parts of the township. In several areas, property owners have had to put in filtration systems to soften the water.
"Some residents buy water and have their water trucked in," Trustee Stanley "Skip" Hanes said.
The proponents of placing new waterlines and sewerlines also expressed concerns that waste from homes and businesses in some areas is flowing into drainage ditches instead of going in approved septic systems.
"You cannot go into some areas of the township without encountering the aroma," Hanes said. "It is not a problem now, but sooner or later, it will contaminate some wells."
Engineer Ned Mitrovich told the court that a study showed that septic systems in the area have an 80 percent failure rate.
"Construction of a centralized waste water facility with the waste water transported to the Warren Sanitary Sewer Division would cost the average property owner between 15 to 20 percent less than it would cost them to repair or replace their current septic systems," Mitrovich said. "This would be a permanent solution versus doing something that may have to be done again in five to 10 years."
Mitrovich told the court it would be better to do the work on the water and sewer projects at one time, instead of doing one and then starting a second project.
It is estimated that the water and sewer project will cost about $28 million.
Attorney Mark Finamore, representing the township, told the court there has been no vocal opposition to the water and sewer project.
|
duracell
|
|
|---|---|
|
06-08-09 11:15 AM
|
This is NOT a school issue - Bring on the sewers!!!!!!
|
|
always4kids
|
|
|
06-08-09 9:24 AM
|
Guess what, Farmington has a water plant, and they're property value stinks. Why? Because they don't have a school. Hmmmmmmm
|
|
bcbcbcbc
|
|
|
06-05-09 9:41 AM
|
Oh my god......Could it be real that my water wont smell like eggs and I can actually turn on my faucet and get a drink of water. Welcome Southington to the 18th century. It's about time.
|
|
PROUDPARENT
|
|
|
06-05-09 8:35 AM
|
I think it would be wonderful to get water and sewers! Property value will climb.
|
