MARION, OH–Aqua Ohio (Aqua) is announcing a new project to extend water mains totaling 2,074 linear feet along Vernon Heights Boulevard and Brightwood Drive. Benefits of this new line include eliminating two dead end mains to improve water quality through better circulation, the addition of a new supply line to serve the southeast quadrant of the city and five new fire hydrants to serve the area. The project is expected to be complete by the end of August.
More than 1,768 linear feet of 12-inch water main will be installed along Vernon Heights Boulevard and nearly 300 feet of eight-inch main will be placed along Brightwood Drive north of Vernon Heights.
“This project is important to improve water quality for the residents of both Vernon Heights Boulevard and Brightwood Drive because we’re removing two dead end mains and creating a loop in the system. The loop keeps the water moving, so it spends less time between our treatment plant and customer’s tap,” said Aqua Ohio’s Area Manager Scott Ballenger. “Customers will also benefit from the additional main supplying water to the southeast quadrant in the city. That will give us the ability to maintain service to more people in the event of a nearby main break.”
Traffic in the area is being maintained, but the road shoulder will be closed between Delaware Avenue and Brightwood Drive. When needed, at intersections, flaggers will be utilized. Brief traffic delays may occur.
Water service will be maintained throughout construction. However, customers receiving new service lines will experience short-term interruptions while their services are connected to the new main, near the end of the project. Those customers will be notified in advance of the planned interruptions.
Underground Utilities Incorporated, of Monroeville, was selected to perform the work. The budget for this project is $290,000. Ballenger said the company expects to spend more than $70 million across Aqua’s 33 Ohio systems in 2021, approximately $6 million of that will be invested locally.
Aqua Ohio is the Buckeye State’s largest investor-owned drinking water and wastewater utility and serves about 500,000 customers in 19 counties. Visit AquaAmerica.com for more information, or follow Aqua on Facebook at facebook.com/MyAquaAmerica and on Twitter at @MyAquaAmerica