Aqua Ohio will fight for townships

The county says a contract for water in four townships has expired.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Aqua Ohio Inc. says it will not relinquish its right to provide water to residents in Brookfield, Vienna, Liberty and Hubbard without a legal fight.
Walter Pishkur, known as "Buzz," president of the private water supplier, made the remark during a news conference he called Tuesday to respond to news stories over the past several months about the Southington Township water situation and involving the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District.
Pishkur said Aqua has been providing water to the four Trumbull County communities since 1955 through a contract with county commissioners, and he'll do what is needed to uphold that contractual agreement. He maintained that the contract doesn't expire until 2015.
However, James Brutz, an assistant county prosecutor assigned to the Trumbull County Sanitary Engineer's office, contended later that the contract has expired. But Pishkur said, "We believe it has been renewed."
Niles wants to sell water
Niles, meanwhile, has contracted for more than $1.5 million for the construction of waterlines and installation of equipment so it can sell water to residents in the four-township area.
Niles said the contract between Aqua and the commissioners expired in 2005.
Brutz said that the county notified Aqua that it would not pick up the option to continue the contract, thus it was allowed to expire.
Pishkur said Aqua thinks it has been renewed for an additional 10 years.
Aqua has also filed with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio an application to expand its service area to include Southington Township. This is being opposed by the MVSD, which supplies bulk treated water to Youngstown, Niles and McDonald for resale.
The MVSD has said the area can be better serviced by a public water supplier.
"We just don't go in and take over water service," Pishkur said, adding that it was the Southington trustees who invited Aqua to provide water to the township.
He said there isn't a turf war between Aqua and MVSD, though some have referred to it as a "water war."
He said those involved in the water business should cooperate to get water to people who need it.
The PUCO and not the MVSD will determine if Aqua will be able to expand its service area and get water to Southington using Warren as a water source, Pishkur said.
He explained that since the MVSD is not going to solve the Southington problem, it should be part of the solution by working with Aqua.
The MVSD's actions are only delaying water delivery to Southington and could make the project more expensive, Pishkur added.
yovich@vindy.com