TRUMBULL COUNTY Official: MVSD has capacity for increase

The plant currently pumps between 27 million and 30 million gallons of water each day.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
MINERAL RIDGE -- When customers in four Trumbull County townships start getting their water from a new supplier, increasing the amount provided won't be a big deal, says an official with the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District.
"We have the capacity," said David Tabak, chief engineer with the MVSD. "We've stated for a long time it was beneficial to all involved to utilize the resources we provide here."
MVSD, located off Salt Springs Road in Weathersfield Township, treats water from the Meander Reservoir and sells it to member cities Youngstown and Niles, who in turn sell it to other area communities.
New customers
Last week, Trumbull County commissioners agreed to begin purchasing from Niles water for customers in Brookfield, Hubbard, Liberty and Vienna Townships, a service currently handled by Consumers Ohio Water Co.
The contract between the county and Consumers, which provides about 1.1 million gallons of water a day to those townships, runs out in 2004. Niles agreed to offer the bulk water for about $600,000 a year as opposed to the $1.2 million price tag from Consumers.
Tabak said when Niles begins purchasing the extra 1.1 million gallons a day from MVSD for sale to the county, workers there will be able to handle the increase with no problems.
"This plant is under-utilized," he said.
Currently the MVSD provides between 27 million and 30 million gallons of water a day to more than 300,000 customers in Youngstown and Niles. The plant has the capacity to pump 58 million gallons of water each day.
Revenue
Tabak also noted the MVSD should also benefit financially from the decision to switch suppliers.
When Niles begins collecting payments from the county for the water, the MVSD will also see an increase in its revenue. Tabak said most of the MVSD's budget is fixed-cost based; personnel and maintenance costs would remain the same even with the increase, he said. While more money would be spent on power to operate the pumps and chemicals to treat the water, the increased revenue would still be enough to help the district, he said.
"Where it helps us is in the planning, We need some improvements out here, and that would help."
Needed improvements at the plant include repairs to the 16 filters. MVSD directors last week hired CT Consultants Inc. of Willoughby to complete design plans for the work, and are expected to hire a company to begin the repairs by the end of the year.
slshaulis@vindy.com