Company sues for dam repair

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — A water supply company has sued a surveying company, alleging the water company had to spend $224,000 to repair dam construction that was based on an inaccurate survey.

Aqua Ohio Inc. of Boardman sued the surveyor, Western Reserve Land Consultants Inc., also of Boardman, on Wednesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

In 2005, Aqua embarked on a state-mandated project that included raising the crest of Pine Lake’s south dam embankment and modifying or building emergency spillways at that dam, the suit said.

Located in the southeast corner of Beaver Township, Mahoning County, Pine Lake is one of Aqua’s water sources.

After completion of the project, “Aqua Ohio Inc. discovered that water was flowing through the newly constructed [south dam]emergency spillway, which was designed to be used in a 100-year flood,” after moderate precipitation in January 2008, the suit said.

Aqua determined both emergency spillways and an embankment were between 6 and 8.4 inches below their intended elevations, according to the lawsuit, which demands a jury trial.

Officials from the surveying company declined to comment on the lawsuit.

The case is assigned to Judge John M. Durkin.