MVSD seeks state loan for capital improvements

MINERAL RIDGE — The Mahoning Valley Sanitary District Board of Directors has authorized a loan of $1.6 million from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to be used for capital improvements for the water treatment facility.

MVSD Chief Engineer Thomas F. Holloway said the loan will cover costs for engineering and design, removing solids and various chemicals from the water system, and improvements to filters and gates.

The sanitary district sells treated bulk water from Meander Reservoir wholesale to about 300,000 customers through its member cities — Youngstown, Niles and McDonald — for resale.

Last April, the MVSD approved contracts for the improvements with the largest, $1.2 million, awarded to MS Consultants, Youngstown, for the solids and chemical removal.

The Ohio EPA offers the loan through its Drinking Water Assistance Fund.

The sanitary district also is looking into other suppliers for its natural gas with its current contract set to expire in two months. The board pays $10.16 per 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas, or MCF, and Holloway anticipates the cost will increase substantially after the contract with its provider, HP Technologies, expires Aug. 31.

“Residential users are paying close to $20 per MCF these days, and I’m sure that as a bulk user, we can do better than that,” Holloway said.

The chief engineer said MVSD is working with a consultant to search for more favorable natural gas rates.