Water lines have dual uses

HURON TWP. — A few details must first be finalized before Erie County officials can flip a switch to connect their water lines, formerly owned by NASA, to Sandusky's water treatment plant.The lines are intended to be used as a crucial backup system for local water customers, pumping water from Lake Erie to the Big Island Water Works plant near Pipe Creek Wildlife Area in Sandusky.In addition, the water lines should provide ample water to potential industry the county hopes to attract. An ample and available water supply is a crucial ingredient to most manufacturing processes.Erie County's and Sandusky's water department representatives, and their experts, are scheduled for a sit-down in mid-November, when they'll review plans and the condition of pipes originating from Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve."The meeting is important to establish what the next steps are for finalizing the project," county commissioner Matt Old said. "We need to know what the city requires."Sandusky, for instance, might need to upgrade its valving system to handle and process this water. This piping system originates beyond Sheldon Marsh, runs southwest to NASA Plum Brook and extends back north Big Island Water Works plant. At maximum capacity, lines can transport 12 million gallons of raw water a day"We are not sure about the condition of the valves," Old said. "That's why we want our guys to go with (Sandusky's) guys to inspect the valves at the city's plant. (Sandusky's engineers) have told us they have concerns that improvements are needed in the valve pit."If the valves require minimal work, then, it's possible, this system could become operational by year's end, Old said."Once this project is fully up and running, it will ensure we have a reliable backup to provide safe water to our customers should the primary intake fail," Old said. "Working together with city officials, we should be able to finalize this in the very near future."Saving taxpayers millions of dollarsAt no cost, county commissioners acquired the pipes in 2014 after administrators from NASA deemed them no longer needed for space agency-related operations. Congress also gave its approval.Then, earlier this year, a five-person, in-house county environmental services team, known as a "work-boot crew" — consisting of John Rufo, Jackson Schaefer, Andy Schoewe, Luis Ceja and Dave Moyer — rebuilt and resurrected a long-dormant water facility at Sheldon Marsh.Some Sandusky commissioners and the city's public works department lobbied for an outside consultant to design and construct a new facility — a task estimated to cost between $8 million and $20 million — at this site.But the environmental services employees, backed by unwavering support from Old and fellow county commissioner Pat Shenigo, believed they could complete all tasks for far fewer dollars.And they were right.The job's final price tag came in at about $350,000, and water customers still ended up with, what's considered by many industry experts, a pristine, top-of-the-line facility and system.Most notably, regarding the station's three pumps, county workers refurbished two of them — they're more than 80 years old — and replaced another one. The pumps can now push and propel water through a 7-mile-long piping system.Crews recently tested the pumps, and they're all operational. They just need to make sure Sandusky's Big Island plant can handle the water before it goes live.Piping advantagesThe pipes, under Erie County's control, offer many advantages to the surrounding community, mostly how they can:• Provide ample amounts of freshwater; This is a demand many industries, such as semi-conductor manufacturing, data centers, processing facilities and the like, require before moving or expanding.• Create a reliable backup water system; Sandusky's water plant can now depend on this network as a secondary water supply source. Sandusky's current backup system is in a shallow portion of Sandusky Bay. It takes a lot more chemicals to treat water from shallower depths because it's often mixed with mud, sediment and other toxins.• Ensure safe water; Since the Sheldon Marsh intake pipe is in "deep-water Lake Erie," it's deemed by officials as a more "efficient and reliable water source" versus shallower water in Sandusky Bay.• Save local water customers money; Sandusky officials had plans to construct a secondary intake, costing anywhere between $8 million and $20 million. But the county modernized the facility at a fraction of the cost, roughly $350,000."What we are really excited about is the opportunity to use this freshwater source as a way to attract new industry to our area," Shenigo said. "We live on the largest supply of freshwater in the world, but getting it inland, to where we can build new factories, is difficult. These pipes, which can never be duplicated in its current configuration, can make that possible."Sandusky officials indicated they're in agreement with the county about this process. The bottom line revolves around keeping the 24,000 or so area water customers serviced by these lines safe."The city and the county are partners in this project," city commissioner Dick Brady said. "The county has found a way to, very economically, get the raw water from the lake to the valves at NASA. The city will play a greater role in moving this water from NASA to our water plant at Big Island. This is an opportunity that cannot be accomplished without the cooperation of both the county and our city."Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.Earlier this year, Erie County's environmental services workers resurrected a long-dormant water pump facility at Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve in Huron Township. The work ensured Sandusky water customers have a safe backup water supply. The in-house job totaled $350,000, coming in at a fraction of the estimated cost — anywhere between $8 million and $20 million — outside consultants previously provided.With the support from Erie County commissioners Pat Shenigo and Matt Old, far left, several Erie County environmental services employees — from left, John Rufo, Jackson Schaefer, Andy Schoewe, Luis Ceja and Dave Moyer — rebuilt and resurrected two water lines inside a pump facility at Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve. The in-house job saved Erie County taxpayers almost $8 million.Earlier this year, Erie County's environmental services workers resurrected a long-dormant water pump facility at Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve in Huron Township. The work ensured Sandusky water customers have a safe backup water supply. The in-house job totaled $350,000, coming in at a fraction of the estimated cost — anywhere between $8 million and $20 million — outside consultants previously provided.A map shows where the water lines Erie County previously acquired from NASA, outlined in blue, extend.