Meander bypass pipe would cost $48 million

October 29, 2015 at 12:09a.m.

MINERAL RIDGE

Installing 12 miles of 42-inch- diameter underground pipe to deliver a backup water supply from Berlin Reservoir directly to the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District’s water treatment plant would cost $48 million, according to an estimate received by the district’s chief engineer.

The estimate came from AECOM, formerly URS, a consulting engineering firm, which has offices in Cleveland and Akron, said Anthony P. Vigorito, MVSD’s chief engineer.

The plan would use the existing pump station at Berlin Reservoir and completely bypass Meander Creek and Meander Creek reservoir.

Vigorito asked for a cost estimate for such an installation after a Vindicator reporter inquired in July about a backup water- supply plan in case Meander water would become unusable due to an algae bloom.

“I would recommend that it be done at some point,” because a secure backup water supply is desirable in case of an emergency, he said.

“We’ve never had an issue to date, but we always want to be prepared,” he added.

In all of MVSD’s operation since its initiation in 1932, Meander Creek Reservoir has never been unavailable as a water source due to contamination.

“I think we have to have a backup water supply to MVSD. Berlin Reservoir would serve as that backup water source,” said Rufus G. Hudson, MVSD board president.

“I don’t know if it’s going to possibly ever move forward or not because of the cost,” he added.

“In the best of all worlds, you’d want to have this backup” supply pipe, said Atty. Matthew J. Blair, a member of MVSD’s board of directors since 1996. “This would be optimum, but you have to look at whether it’s financially feasible.”

Potential Meander Reservoir contamination sources include 182 oil and gas wells, 18 miles of oil and gas pipelines, a 72-inch above-ground pipe carrying Canfield’s sewage to the Meander Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and 145 road and eight rail crossings of the creek, the reservoir or its tributaries, according to MVSD’s drinking water source protection plan.

Vigorito said the biggest threats to Meander water would be an uncontrolled algae bloom or spills related to oil and gas drilling.

To address potential hazardous materials discharges from vehicle crashes, spill containment systems have been installed at the bridges where Interstate 80 and the Ohio Turnpike cross Meander Reservoir.

MVSD serves about 220,000 people in Niles, Youngstown and surrounding communities.

“You have to look at the overall fiscal picture before you make a decision” on constructing such a backup, Blair said. “I have not formed a conclusion on it yet.”

“It’s a very complicated balancing act,” of priorities and budgets, Blair said of running MVSD, noting that the district must also consider repairs to its 83-year-old reservoir dam.

Vigorito said the bypass pipe project isn’t likely to happen soon because of poor local economic conditions and declining population and water use in the Mahoning Valley.

Due to population and industry losses, average daily use of MVSD-treated water has fallen from 25 million to 21 million gallons during the last five years, for a 16 percent loss, Vigorito noted.

Under those conditions, customers could see a significant increase in their bills to pay for the project, he said.

An existing 42-inch diameter concrete backup water supply pipe goes from Berlin Reservoir to Meander Creek in Ellsworth Township before the creek enters the reservoir.

Berlin Reservoir could also be used as a backup water supply in case of a drought, Vigorito said.

The current bypass pipe proposal would use the first half of the existing Berlin Reservoir to Meander Creek pipe, then extend the new pipe along a new route to MVSD’s Mineral Ridge plant, Vigorito explained.

The $48 million price tag takes into account costs of inflation, acquiring easements from landowners along the pipe route, valve installation, and installation of new and larger pumps and motors at the Berlin pump station, he said.

To pay for the project, Vigorito estimated the district would have to add 6 to 8 cents per thousand gallons of water to the $2.10 per thousand gallons it charges Niles and Youngstown for the duration of any loan, depending on the length and interest rate of the loan.

He said he hopes a federal grant would be available for the project, instead.

The direct Berlin-to-MVSD plant pipe was estimated at $3.7 million when it was first proposed during the 1950s and at $19 million when it was reconsidered in 1988.