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Scio to have million-dollar water

Posted October 15, 2007 11:00 pm

Tony Washer

In a few short months, the town of Scio may be the place to go for clean, great tasting water.

Construction has begun on the town's $1.4 million upgrade of its water system. The Blue Heron Construction, LLC is currently working to dig pipelines in different areas of the district for the upgraded system. The project will allow the town to expand the district and serve more customers, offering them a high quality product.

Scio's water collection is through a process called ground water under the direct influence of surface water. Collection for the district's supply is done from three natural springs and one well. The water then travels up to the filtration system located on Wadsworth Hill through an intricate series of pipes. From their it is filtered and mixed with the right amount of fluoride and sent to the reservoir.

Some of the pipes currently in the ground are four-inch pipes. In working with today's state standards to have a constant 20 pounds per square inch flow throughout the system, the town is working to replace those four-inch pipes, and replace them with pipes at least eight inches in diameter.

The desire to upgrade the system came when town officials found out they could be eligible for a grant to improve their system. The combination of ground water influence and lower than desired flow of water put Scio on the New York State Safe Drinking Water Revolving Fund.

The town's water has always been safe to drink and Dan Jordan, district water superintendent, said with today's testing, New York state is always receiving testing samples.

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"We test for chemicals and bacteria twice a month and a fluoride sample is sent to Albany every month," Jordan said.

According to Jordan, the $1.4 million price tag is not necessarily the cost for materials.

"The cost is getting it in the ground, not the pipe itself," Jordan said.

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To pay for the project, the town is using money from the NYS grant and a zero percent interest loan.

Also part of the project will be a new three-phase power source. New generators will upgrade the system's power source to pump the water from 240 volts to 480 volts. Jordan said the generators will bring more power to pumps. The town also will upgrade its collection building located near the three natural springs.

The filtration system is getting an overhaul as well. New bag filters that are extremely effective at getting out undesired particles and chemicals will be used. The town has already improved the filtration of the water, but more improvements will be made as the project continues.

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When asked why the town does not tap into Wellsville's water supply, Jordan said there were two reasons.

"The state said we want you to take care of your own system," he said, adding that the second reason being it was mutually beneficial for both Wellsville and Scio to have their own water systems.

Jordan said in the event of an emergency, where either town's water supply was not available, both could work to bring residents water until repairs were made.

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"It was economically feasible to upgrade and still provide customers at a reasonable price," Jordan said.

Town of Scio residents will see an undetermined tax increase to help pay for the loan for the project. Payment on the thirty-year loan will be about $22,900 per year.

"In the end, the customer is the most important person," said town Superintendent Dan Fleming, adding the goal is to provide the customers with the best tasting water at a competitive price.

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Fleming commended Jordan and Bob Linnecke for their hard work in monitoring the system and making sure things have run smoothly.

During construction, customers should anticipate no significant interruption in their service. Substantial completion of the project is to be finished by the end of the year with finishing touches completed after the winter months.

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