Water tank to be replaced

Water is being lost between water district and Youngstown.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- Work is expected to begin in the spring to replace the water storage tank here.
Thomas Holloway, chief engineer at the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District, told the agency's board Wednesday that the 1.5-million-gallon steel tank will be replaced with a 1.5-million-gallon pre-cast concrete structure.
The MVSD will seek bids later this year, Holloway said, that is expected to cost $1.5 million.
The 75-year-old tank at Niles' Stevens Park will be razed to make way for the new one. The replacement won't be as tall as the current standpipe, but it will be larger in diameter.
Holloway explained that the tank places too much pressure on waterlines causing the lines in the city to break.
The MVSD provides wholesale water from Meander Reservoir to its member cities -- Youngstown, Niles and McDonald -- for resale.
Contract awarded
In other business, the board awarded a $9,080 contract to Neptune Equipment Co. of Cincinnati to replace two water meters at the McDonald line.
Holloway said the meters are more than 10 years old, and they may not be as accurate as new meters because of their age.
BIF of Solon is studying the meters in the Youngstown lines because of a discrepancy in the amount of water being delivered to Youngstown and the amount Youngstown is selling.
Holloway would not discuss the amount, referring questions to Youngstown. He did say, however, there are no leaks in the line.
Also during the meeting, the sanitary district board entered into a contract with Hickman Lumber Co. of Emlenton, Pa., to harvest timber.
Hickman will pay the district $48,733 to remove selected trees on 24 acres around the reservoir.
Holloway said timber harvesting is an annual project. The lowest proposal was $37,387 to remove the timber.
MVSD works with a forester and Ohio Department of Natural Resources to ensure that endangered species of wildlife are not disturbed in the process.
yovich@vindy.com