“It would look like a tsunami or something. Something like 30,000 customers would be effected without water for close to eight months or more, and there’s no way you can sustain you know a community or an area without water for eight months.”
– Larry Mullins, Scioto County Emergency Management director
In February of 2019, a landslide brought dirt and debris onto the water tanks of Scioto County Regional Water District 1 located above Lucasville. The filtration plant relies on these tanks to operate, and the district serves about 30,000 costumers.
The two tanks are at risk to fail every time it rains. If the tanks were to fail, 1.2 million gallons of water would spill directly onto houses in the Lucasville area.
“The recommendation was that we removed the dirt down to bedrock,” said Jonathan King, the general manager of Scioto County Regional Water District 1.
The district has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars moving away the dirt and debris, conducting studies and monitoring the area. The studies have shown the ground 27 feet under the tanks is also sliding.
“The tank movement is continual, but it’s not speeding up nor is it slowing down,” King said. “One firm told us to keep the tanks completely full because they were actually pinning the earth to the bedrock, and another firm said we don’t think you should keep them full.”
“The water district has worked tirelessly to save these tanks, we have moved over 50,000 cubic yards of dirt and invested over $800,000,” said King. “Despite our efforts, the hill continues to move making it necessary to relocate the tanks.”
To avert a disaster and remedy the problems, Scioto County Regional Water District 1 received a $1.02 million grant from the Ohio BUILDS initiative funded through the American Rescue Plan Act along with a $682,000 matching grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission and more than $650,000 from the district.
The grant has allowed for a new tank site to be purchased and prepped and for an existing tank to be moved. The grant will also cover 75,000 feet of 12-inch lines to be installed to connect the new tank site to the existing structure.
The new tank location site has been prepped, design has been completed, and plans from the Ohio EPA have been approved. Pipes are currently being installed to connect the system.
End of Worry
King said there have been several nights and weekends that involve him getting up in the middle of the night because he heard rain and driving up to inspect the towers, making sure nothing moved so residents would not have to evacuate.
King said …
“The last couple of years has been stressful knowing the hill supporting the two tanks was moving. It’s hard to sleep sometimes realizing the structural integrity of those tanks has been compromised, placing not only the surrounding residents in danger but also placing the ability to guarantee safe water throughout our county at risk …
“We’re alleviating all kinds of problems. The immediate danger to residents, the danger to not only our residents not having potable water but what that would do to our economics the several school systems that we serve.
Larry Mullins, Director of EMA, said …
“What a catastrophic event it would have been if the towers were to fail. Mr. Holsinger, Mr. King, and the entire staff at Water 1 are to be commended for taking the initiative to mitigate this major threat to life, property, and the environment.”
Mullins said the project is a prime example of shared responsibility for community preparedness.
“The Government, the private sector, faith based, non-governmental organizations, and the community as a whole, all need to work together to help make sure that we are safe from potential harm and hazard,” said Mullins.
(Darian Gillette. “Scioto County Regional Water District 1 receives $1.02 million grant.” Portsmouth Daily Times. October 28, 2021.)
(Emily Bennett. “‘The potential for disaster is huge’: $1.02 million grant to fix water infrastructure problems.” WSAZ. November 01, 2021.)
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