The Village of Cleves council unanimously approved Resolution 12-2025 authorizing the village administrator to enter a contract to supply bulk water to the Village of Addison, a move tied to Ohio EPA regionalization funding and to contamination-risk concerns if INEOS ceases operations on adjacent property.

Justin Hamy described the plan: extend Cleves water main from the consolidated-grain area along U.S. 50, install a master meter and a pressure reducing valve so Addison’s system can receive Cleves water (Addison’s system operates at lower pressure). Hamy said the village had been awarded “over $800,000 grant for this regionalization effort back in May,” and that engineering planning must be complete no later than Oct. 31.

Why it matters: The Ohio EPA and consultants have warned that INEOS’s pumping currently maintains a hydraulic condition that prevents a contaminated plume from reaching Addison’s wells. Hamy said when INEOS stops pumping, “within 7 days, it's believed, will infiltrate the first well. Within 7 to 30 days, their other well will also become contaminated.” The regionalization grant is contingent on Addison agreeing to accept bulk water and to shut off its own wells, officials said.

Details and safeguards: The plan would include a master meter to measure flow and a pressure-reduction valve to protect Addison’s pipes. Hamy said Cleves pumps on average 800,000–900,000 gallons per day and has capacity up to 2,000,000 gallons daily; staff said providing bulk water would not reduce Cleves residents’ pressure because the system is gravity-fed from the Rittenhouse tower and designed to accommodate additional flow.

Council discussion and votes: After a motion to suspend the rules, the council voted 5–0 to suspend and then to adopt Resolution 12-2025. Roll-call votes show Councilmember Burns, Councilmember Angeline, Councilmember Meyer, Councilmember Badel and Councilmember Bolton voting yes. The resolution authorizes the administrator to negotiate contract terms and pursue the project within the EPA grant schedule.

Financial and operational questions: Council members asked whether Greater Cincinnati Water Works was an alternative long-term operator; Hamy confirmed that Greater Cincinnati is an option but said the current phase aims to build an interconnection and provide short-term bulk water while planning continues. Hamy also said long-term arrangements could include billing Addison at a wholesale rate and possibly expanding staffing and billing capacity if Addison were fully integrated.

Next steps and timeline: Planning must be completed and submitted to the Ohio EPA by Oct. 31 for grant compliance; staff said construction could occur in spring or summer of the following year if schedules and funding hold. The EPA indicated it could provide money to Addison to shut down its wellfield to prevent contamination, Hamy said.

Ending: Council approved the resolution 5–0 and instructed the administrator to finalize contract details with Addison and with engineers to meet the EPA planning deadline.