If people in the Town of Batavia want public water, they are going to have to let it be known and help lobby for grant money, according to town officials.
Government tests on private wells show there is contamination of varying degrees, which is, of course, unhealthy. The arduous process of getting loans and grants approved to extend public water lines calls for a united, consistent effort to make it happen, says Town Engineer Steve Mountain.
"We at the town can only do so much," Mountain said. "We are no further along than before but we have all the necessary information."
There are meetings planned with officials at all levels of government, regulatory agencies and scientists. Grant applications were sent to the USDA three months ago, but perhaps due to a backlog of applications in a sluggish economy, there's no word yet on the status.
Without grants, estimated annual water costs for residents would be:
- Creek/East Roads -- $1,190
- Pratt Road -- $1,982
- Wortendyke Road -- $2,230
- Batavia northeast of Rte. 98 -- $1,940
- Batavia northwest of Rte. 98 -- $1,667.
Estimated costs with grants would average of $750 per year per household in the water districts.
A Batavia Town Board Meeting is at 7 tonight and residents are encouraged to attend to learn more about the well contamination problem, what is being done about it and to let their wishes be known regarding establishing public water districts.
If they want to continue working to bring public water to the area, they need to step it up and if there's a lack of interest, say so, Mountain said.
To move ahead, a resident from each proposed water district will need to circulate a legal petition in order to proceed. The legal approval process can take anywhere from a few months to two years.
In addition, Mountain said he encourages residents to send letters to county, state and federal officials.
The short list would include Congressman Chris Lee, senators Mike Ransenhofer, Kirsten Gillibrand, Charles Schumer, Assemblyman Steve Hawley and the Genesee County Legislature.
The area of initial concern regarding well-water quality was State Street, Batavia-Elba Townline and Bank Street roads and tests in this area were funded by the Department of Environmental Conservation.
Testing was eventually done on all private wells, and the additional testing was paid for the town.
Fourteen out of 38 well tested positive for bacteria and 12 out of 13 had elevated nitrate levels between 0.05 parts per million (ppm) and 9.99 ppm. One out of 13 had nitrate levels greater than or equal to 10 ppm.
Say that this public water
Say that this public water does go through and is made available to the areas effected by contamination. Will it be mandatory for all residents to have this hooked up even if there is nothing wrong with the present well water?
We had our water tested and it came back fine. I like our water and its free. I find it difficult to accept having to pay for something I don't need. If someone could answer this for me it would really be greatly appreciated.
Mark, If Public water runs
Mark,
If Public water runs by your house you do not have to hook up to it. If you choose not to there will no cost for the water itself but you will have to pay a pre determined amount which goes toward paying down the debt incurred for installation. This fee will be paid by every resident in the water district whether they hook up or not.
As for well water being free it really is not. By the time you figure in the electric to run your well pump and water softening/treatment (salt, chlorine, filters, etc.) the cost of public water is about the same if not a little less than well water. The other cost savings with public water is less wear and tear on you appliances.
Why isn't the town going
Why isn't the town going after the farmers that contaminated those wells and make them pay for all these hook ups..Isn't something like this what the feds are making BP do for contaminating the Gulf..Or let who ever will be selling the water to all these people pay for all this,they are the ones who will profit from all the new customers....
I don't quite agree with some
I don't quite agree with some of the town engineers comments regarding well contamination and residents involvement. See below.
1. "We at the town can only do so much," Mountain said. "We are no further along than before but we have all the necessary information."
2. "If they want to continue working to bring public water to the area, they need to step it up and if there's a lack of interest, say so," Mountain said.
To move ahead, a resident from each proposed water district will need to circulate a legal petition in order to proceed.
3. In addition, Mountain said he encourages residents to send letters to county, state and federal officials.
It took a month, or more, after the town board knew there was a problem, before they "slapped together" an agenda and had a meeting with town residents regarding the contamination, and the forming water districts.
Residents of the Batavia northeast of Rte. 98 proposed water district had petitions submitted to the town board within two weeks after the contaminated wells were discovered.
And regarding sending letters to government officials, the town board said they would put together a form letter that residents could use. It wasn't posted on the town's site for 2 months or more after the initial meeting.
We need to step it up???
Another question I have for the town board, why did they lump all of the proposed water districts together? Could the large amount of money requested when they went for funding be part of the reason they were turned down?
Why didn't they address only the districts that are under a boil water advisory first, get it resolved then move on to the rest? Maybe with a smaller amount requested we would have got some funding.
The only feeling I get from the town board regarding this emergency situation is apathy, and I'm pretty sure if you were to take a poll of residents with polluted wells, they'd feel the same way.