LEETONIA Hydrant replacements to improve water service

LEETONIA -- A fire hydrant replacement project is expected to improve water service on the village's north side.
Crews recently finished primary work on the $59,900 undertaking, said Gary Phillips, village administrator.
Now, north side residents won't have to endure the frequent boil orders necessitated by the work over the past several weeks.
Crews opened waterlines as part of the job, Phillips explained. Any time that's done, bacteria could creep into lines, meaning the village must advise residents to boil water for cooking or drinking.
The hydrant replacements, which began in March, were funded mostly through a federal grant, though the village contributed about $4,500, Phillips said.
The project
Moderalli Excavating of Springfield Road, Poland, did the work, which largely entailed replacing 19 old or defective hydrants.
New hydrants were installed on Chestnut, Washington, Center, Pine, Oak, Walnut, Summit and Main streets, Phillips said.
Besides new hydrants, the village also put in two valves that control waterlines serving the village's north side.
Having the valves in place gives village officials more control over where on the north side water is shut off when line repairs are made in that neighborhood.
With the valves in place, just the parts of the north side that would be affected by repairs will temporarily lose water, Phillips explained.
Before the valves were put in, water to virtually the entire north side had to be severed for fixes.
The new hydrants also will assist the village in periodic waterline flushing, a chore needed to maintain good water quality, Phillips said.
Crews will be on the scene over the next several weeks to grade dirt and plant grass seed in areas that were excavated.