Mary Alice Reporting –
Seven local communities have been approved for funding for public drinking water distribution system equipment.
Ohio’s Governor and the Ohio EPA announced 250 communities were awarded $2.2 million through the H2Ohio program.
Grants could be awarded up to $10,000 and getting that full amount was the City of New Philadelphia. Service Director Ron McAbier says the money will purchase a device they can put on a hydrant or valves which will help pin point where a leak is occurring but may not be visible.
“Water loss is a big problem. We’re treating that water and it may just be going down drain or to the river so it’s definitely something we want to try to find. For digging, if you can open up a ditch that’s, you know, four foot by eight [instead of] four foot by twenty-four foot just trying to find [a leak], searching, searching, and searching. It definitely helps on both those ends.”
Village of Tuscarawas Mayor Dana Moore explains that with their $10,000 they will purchase two pieces of equipment, also for early water leak detection.
“Make the repairs, make the corrections, without a loss of street and equipment around it. We’re very appreciative of receiving this grant. Aging lines is very much to do with it and we’re doing everything we can replacing some of the old lines.”
Strasburg Village was also awarded $10,000 and they will purchase a subsurface leak detector, a GPS Map 64, and a portable clamp on flow meter.
Other entities also receiving H2Ohio grant dollars:
- Gnadenhutten – $9,999.20
- Newcomerstown – $9,655
- Sugarcreek – $10,000
- Twin city Water & Sewer District – $7,665
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