Trending
NEW WATERFORD -- As the New Waterford sewer project nears completion, the village now has the opportunity to expand and promote development, Mayor Shane Patrone told council on Tuesday.
"This had doubled the potential size of the village," he said. "We weren't in the position to add on additional sewer customers. The upgrades to the water lines and sewer lines have doubled the village capacity. This was a big project to undertake but it was necessary."
The improvements to the village wastewater system -- which was built in 1950 and consisted of metal lines -- was put into motion in October of 2021 when New Waterford was awarded a portion from the Ohio BUILDS Water Infrastructure Program money being distributed. The village received $2.5 million to replace sewer lines.
That funded the first phase of the project. The second phase was funded through a $452,575 in a low-interest loan through the Ohio Water Development Authority to put toward the second phase. The village was just one of nine municipalities in the state to be selected for the funding, and the only one in Columbiana County.
The project consisted of replacing sewer lines on East Main Street, Creek Road, Spruce Street, Allendale Avenue, Pinewood Drive, Front Street and portions of state Route 46 and Boardman Street and 40,500 feet of sanitary sewer along Colony, Patriot, Waynewood, Pinewood, Dogwood, Sycamore, Court, Maple, Silliman, Elk, Oak, Boardman, Church, Taylor, West Main and Crestview streets, as well as upgrading the main trunk line from the wastewater treatment plant to Creek Road. It also extended sewer service to 11 homes along Front Street and benefited nearly 1,000 village residents.
Also in sewer project news, village administrator Jason Gorby reported that 90 percent of the storm drains on state Route 46 have been replaced.
The sewer project was just the latest improvement in New Waterford's overhaul of the village infrastructure. In 2021, the village took advantage of Gov. Mike DeWine's H2Ohio grant program to extend water lines to Crestview Schools from the village.
In other matters, council chose to table the reading of an ordinance establishing water rates in the villages until the August meeting as two council members were not present on Monday.
selverd@mojonews.com