Aqua announces construction projects

Water mains to be replaced on Hopkins, Johnnycake, Perkins, Low Ridge

Aqua recently announced its 2018 water system improvement projects for the city of Mentor.

The projects involve the replacement of 7,700 linear feet of aging, undersized water mains, and the installation 22 new fire hydrants and other related infrastructure, according to a news release.

The company is investing nearly $3 million in the projects, including plant upgrades. There are three major water main projects planned in the Mentor system:

• Johnnycake Ridge Road — Replacing 2,300 feet of 50-year-old, 10-inch cast iron pipe with 12-inch ductile iron pipe between Brentwood Drive and Deepwood Boulevard. This project will

All of the projects are expected to be complete by the end of October 2018. Customers along the construction routes will receive new company service connections.

replace four fire hydrants and install five new ones. Cost: $560,000.

• Perkins Drive and Low Ridge Lane — Replacing 3,600 feet of an old well system that once served the neighborhood with 8-inch ductile iron pipe from Johnnycake Ridge Road north on Low Ridge and connecting to the existing Aqua water main on Perkins. This project will add six new fire hydrants. Cost: $648,000.

• Hopkins Road — Replacing 1,800 feet of 60-year-old, 10-inch cast iron pipe with 16-inch ductile iron pipe from Idlewood Drive to Highland Court. This project will replace two fire hydrants and install four new hydrants. Cost: $683,250.

The company also plans to make significant upgrades to the water treatment plant serving the area, including:

• New carbon feed system to enable improved treatment for potential harmful algae blooms in Lake Erie. Cost: $400,000

• Filter media and under-drain replacement to improve reliability of three filters, which are critical for improving overall water quality for customers throughout the service area. Cost: $190,000.

All of the projects are expected to be complete by the end of October 2018. Customers along the construction routes will receive new company service connections.

While short-term localized service

interruptions are expected, the company will communicate with residents individually about planned outages.

Aqua Ohio serves about 500,000 people in 19 counties. The system is based in Mentor and serves Mentor, Mentor-on-the-Lake, Kirtland, Kirtland Hills and Waite Hill, and portions of Concord, Painesville and Auburn townships. It also serves Sagamore Hills, and Chester and Bridgewater townships (Williams County).

Aqua typically invests between $30 million and $40 million a year in infrastructure among its 33 Ohio water systems. In 2018, the company will invest a total of $41.9 million.

“Aqua is continually focused on improving service reliability and water flows, especially for highdemand events like firefighting,” said Aqua Area Manager Bill Bowers. “We take a strategic approach to main replacement, investing where we really need to while keeping the impact on rates in mind.

“At the water treatment plant, we invest to be prepared for ever-tightening standards so that we can assure we are delivering water that meets all regulations today and tomorrow.”

Customers who have questions about these projects should call Project Construction Coordinator Sue Pawlowski at 440-255-3984. Those with other Aqua related questions should call the Aqua Customer Service Center toll-free at 877-9872782.