RINGTOWN - Due to the need to replace a major water main, Ringtown water customers could see a $5 per month rate increase.
The prospect of the rate increase from $20 to $30 every two months was discussed during Monday's Ringtown Borough Council meeting.
Last year, water main breaks along a length of pipe providing water to the borough began to occur. The first occurred on Dec. 14, the second on Jan. 31 near the sewage treatment plant. The Dec. 14 leak led to replacing 30 feet of pipe, there have been two other major leaks since Jan. 31.
An investigation began with borough foreman Scott Schuetrum and Alfred Benesch & Co. engineer Jacqueline Peleschak to determine if the leaks are being caused by a defect in the pipe, which was installed 17 years ago and expected to last up to 100 years, or if acidic soil and rock conditions were leading to the deterioration.
About 7,000 feet were tested, leading to the conclusion that acidic stone was the culprit. Council President Julian Milewski a Republican-Herald employee, said 1,800 feet will need to be replaced. The estimated cost is $200,000.
"Right now we have ductile iron pipe. The problem is that the stone pipe laid in by the contractor is very acidic and the water table is very high in that particular area, which leaches the acid out of the stone and it is attacking the pipe from the outside," Milewski said. "We've had four leaks already, and that is the main eight-inch water line that feeds the borough tank."
Milewski said the replacement is a high-pressure plastic pipe that will be impervious to the acid and meets all specifications.
"This way it will never rot again. It is sad that only 17 years into a 100-year project that we have to change a major piece of water line," Milewski said.
"The problem is that with the previous contract, the surety bond made the 10-year limit and it was canceled, so there is no way I can go on it. There is no grant money around. I'll try again to see if there is some money out there, but we need to get this project done before the snow flies."
Peleschak will draw up the bid specifications for advertising so bids can be opened at the Oct. 8 meeting.
Milewski also explained that getting a low-interest loan of $200,000 from PENNVEST was not possible.
"PENNVEST said, and the quote was, 'If you want $2 million, come back and see me, $200,000 is not worth the paperwork,' " he said.
Milewski said the borough received an acceptable quote from Miners Bank for a 10-year loan, but the project cost will lead to the rate increase, though it returns the rate to its former level.
"When we went to bi-monthly billing, we dropped the water rate by $5 per month, so now the $5 per month is coming back," Milewski said.
The new rate could begin in the new year.