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Water superintendent warns of worn filters, hard water and six-figure repair estimates
Summary
South Point's water report showed heavy groundwater hardness (~190 ppm) and recommended refurbishing aging filter media (estimated $265,000 for two filters; $445,000 for four) and investigating tank repairs; staff said an EPA-funded filtration project is about $7 million and the village may avoid borrowing by using reserves or spreading payments.
The village water report described a system that draws from the Ohio Valley aquifer and produces very hard water, and it set out repair and replacement needs that council members said will require funding decisions.
"Our water is probably the hardest around," the water department speaker said, estimating hardness at about 190 parts per million and noting the village's permit requires disinfecting but not softening. He said five methods exist to soften groundwater — ion exchange, lime softening, reverse osmosis, electrodialysis and chelating agents — and all would add operating or capital cost.
Staff described filter-media replacement as a near-term need. A vendor estimate supplied to the council put the cost to change media in two filters at about $265,000 and to change all four filters at roughly $445,000. The speaker recommended refurbishing the filters and said the village has reserve funds large enough to avoid borrowing in at least some scenarios. "I don't believe we'd have to borrow any money to do this," he said, while also noting a recommendation to consider modest annual rate increases to maintain system health.
Council and staff also discussed tank maintenance. One tank, built around 1957, showed structural issues (roof rust and some main-beam deterioration) and will likely require engineering and bidding for repairs or replacement; staff indicated the village will ask their engineer to examine the reports and prepare bidding documents. Painting of all three tanks about a decade ago cost roughly $210,000–$215,000; with inflation and possible structural work, costs are expected to be higher.
Staff also referenced a larger, EPA-funded filtration project tied to litigation funds: "the PAS U filtering system that we're talking about putting in that is being paid by the EPA, that's about a $7 million project...we got from the EPA and through a lawsuit that we had with uh Dupon," the speaker said.
Council asked staff to pursue engineering bids and possible grant nominations; staff said they would consult the village engineer to develop scope and cost estimates for bidding. The council discussed options including paying from reserves, borrowing to amortize cost over multiple years, or pacing rate increases.
Next steps included engineering review, grant-application work, and returning with more precise cost and financing estimates to the council.
