Girl Scouts ask Hudson to explore connecting camp to SR‑303 water main; consultants estimate ~$1 million project

Jane, representing Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio, told the City Council the organization’s camp near Hudson has seen declining well capacity and is seeking a reliable long‑term water supply. Consultants presented options on Sept. 9 and asked council to consider authorizing connection to the State Route 303 water main.

Jane said the camp has an 80‑year‑old well that “is not producing as much as it was two years ago,” and that staff observed significant drawdowns during last summer’s drought. Consultant Bob McNutt said the camp’s peak non‑fire demand ranges roughly 9,000–12,000 gallons per day (with occasional peaks up to 20,000 gpd). Converting those loads to flow rates, the consultants projected roughly 14–20 gallons per minute for typical peaks and estimated fire‑flow planning could require an 8‑inch service capable of delivering higher flows.

McNutt said an 8‑inch connection from the SR‑303 main would likely be required to provide code‑level fire protection; he described an initial planning‑level cost estimate in the order of $1 million and said the Girl Scouts will pursue grants and partner funding. He reported outreach and early support from the Boy Scouts and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and said the EPA had flagged the camp as a priority for assistance.

City staff described the municipal plant as a 2,000,000‑gallon‑per‑day facility with current average use near 1,000,000 gpd and reserve capacity for peaks. Staff said adding the camp’s demand is modest relative to plant capacity but noted one of the city’s wells is already degraded; loss of a second well would require operational adjustments.

Council members asked technical and policy questions: whether installation would require trenching across the right‑of‑way, who would pay construction costs, whether fire protection is the prime driver, and how the camp would be billed. Staff said the Boy Scouts who already connect to the SR‑303 main pay the city’s regular rate and noted the Girl Scouts would likely be charged the outside/user rate rather than grandfathered treatment.

No formal decision was taken; council said it would take the request under advisement and staff would return with additional information, including cost‑sharing options and potential funding sources. The Girl Scouts requested early consideration so funds could be raised before the camp’s water reliability worsens.

Provenance: The presentation and Q&A are recorded from 33:38 to 50:09 of the workshop (consultant and Girl Scouts remarks and council technical questions).