Perrysburg forms another water district

by Mary Pankow

     The Town of Perrysburg is resolving its water woes step by step ... and public hearing by public hearing.

     Having just taken action to establish a water district in Versailles, the town board held a public hearing Aug. 11 for input on establishing a district in the Prospect Street/West Main Street area that lies just outside the Village of Gowanda limits.

     Engineer Mark Alianello explained the process leading up to the public hearing. Although some residents in the problem area already purchase water from Gowanda, others do not, depending on private wells for their supply.

     To unify the area and provide substantial and quality water to all the area’s residences, four proposals were considered.

     The first involved having the town take over the existing two-inch line that is not owned by anyone. Doing this would not solve the dilemma and the line is old and many repairs would be needed.

     The second idea was to eliminate the two-inch line altogether and have everyone drill wells. Fear of contamination from sewage reigned supreme and this proposal was immediately ruled out.

     A new waterline was the third idea and was considered, but deemed costly.

     The fourth, and decidedly best for all involved, included the addition of the Gowanda Central School complex that would enable the water line to loop back to Memorial Drive. This, the most feasible of solutions, and most affordable for the residents, was approved by the school.

     Other advantages Alianello pointed out were better fire flow characteristics, it would keep the water fresher and the chlorine residual up so that there is no danger of bacteriological contamination.

     This project involves 3,450 feet of eight-inch waterline and would run down West Main Street, down Prospect Street all the way to the end, at Panther Drive make connection by the hydrant that is in front of the middle school end of the building. Then, the line that goes from that hydrant back to the east side of the building will go east across the creek to the front lawn of Tri-County Hospital, where it will tie into the Memorial Drive line.

     There is currently an application for funding to deepen the line crossing Thatcher Brook so that Thatcher could be dredged out as part of a flood control project. The school had committed to this. Once the water district is formed, however, the district would assume responsibility for the local share of $12,500. That project will only go through if federal funding is granted.

     The Village of Gowanda has agreed to enter into an agreement with the new district to supply water and read the meters. The village will then turn the meter readings from each house over to the town for billing purposes. Perrysburg will then collect the money and pay the Village of Gowanda.

     The water rate agreed upon is 1.35 times the current village rate.

     A minimum of $15,500 will be paid to Gowanda; however, the town estimates water purchases will be in the $22,000 neighborhood, based on typical consumer usage.

     Alianello then proceeded to inform everyone of the project cost.

     Capital costs will be $330,000 while operations and maintenance will total $26,000 annually.

     To explain funding procedures, Catharine Rees, of the North East Rural Community Assistance Program, began by saying the town had considered two major funding sources.

     The first, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, required certain criteria be met. The town did not score high enough to qualify for this avenue of funding. It may be possible to utilize the Revolving Fund for refinancing purposes at a later date.

     The second source, United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development, was a go, offering a 38-year loan at 5 percent interest.

     Based on the USDA loan, it will cost each residence (equivalent dwelling unit) $504 per year. This includes water usage and calculates out to $126 per quarter.

     Of course the school’s service-based charge will be considerably more, estimated at $1,500 for four-inch meter.

     Regarding infrastructure concerns, the water main will run along the school side of the street. The water district pays to push the line under the road to the property-line shut-off valve. The resident then employs a contractor to dig a trench and install water line from the shut-off valve to the home. These lines will pass inspection and meet set standards.

     Those who already have a line going to their house will also need to meet standards and pass the inspection. Some lines may be in compliance; while some lines may need replacing.

     Those with wells may elect to use their wells to water flowers, etc. This is fine as long as the waterlines are completely separate.

     Alianello hopes to break ground next spring if financing for the project is in place.

     Town Supervisor Myrton Sprague commented, “At least this will be done right. I’d like to thank the school and the Village of Gowanda for cooperating.”

     Hearing no objections, the Perrysburg Town Board proceeded to pass a resolution establishing the Prospect Street Water District.