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Vanlue council hears Ohio EPA deadline for water-tower vent replacement and orders testing of softener media
Summary
Village Administrator Leo Hendricks told the Vanlue Village Council on Oct. 28 that Ohio EPA requires the village to replace the water-tower vent hood or enter a contract to do so by Dec. 31, 2024; the council discussed sampling aging softener media and budgeting for tower and meter work.
On Oct. 28, 2024, Vanlue Village Administrator Leo Hendricks reported to the Village Council that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency notified the village of required water-system actions following a triennial review.
“The EPA has advised us that we will need to change the tower vent hood to comply with newer water tower regulations. They have given us until 12/31/2024 to either have completed or enter into a contract to have performed,” Hendricks said, describing the agency’s deadline and the village’s next steps.
Hendricks told council members the EPA also requires sampling and evaluation of the water-softener media because the media exceed 10 years of service. He said the village has until Dec. 31, 2024, to complete or contract for that testing and that staff are awaiting availability and quotes from Hempy Water and USG Water to perform sampling and any necessary repairs.
Hendricks said the village received roughly $10,000 in equipment or supplies from a $14,906 Source Water Protection Program (SWPP) grant and has six months to spend the grant funds. He said the mayor is forming a community-and-business committee to develop a Source Water Area Protection Plan that the village will later submit for final approval.
Operations staff reported multiple operational issues tied to a malfunctioning softening system that have contributed to meter failures. Public works staff said about 78 meters have been replaced at least once, 17 rebuilt meters are available on site, and two recent service-line leak repairs together displaced about 10,000 gallons per day. Staff also recommended a chemical scale for handling treatment chemicals, estimated at approximately $3,200.
Council members and a resident asked procedural questions about tower painting and maintenance scheduling. Hendricks said exterior painting would occur first and that the village will monitor tower water levels while budgeting for the work.
Hendricks said staff will develop a five-year water-system pro forma to evaluate future rate adjustments needed to fund meter replacements, tower maintenance and other long-term needs. No rate decisions were made at the meeting; council voted separately to advertise for a new well-field farming contract and to pursue administrative steps described at the meeting.
The council’s next regular meeting is Nov. 25, 2024; staff said they will return with quotes and scheduling options for the tower vent hood replacement and the softener-media sampling.
