Mar 31, 2003 By Jenny Susa 3 min read

After several months of work, the Tri-County Joint Municipal Authority reported that its Scenery Hill water system expansion project is near completion. The authority’s general manager Jeffrey Kovach said this is a $5.8 million project, which includes the construction of 76,000 feet of water line, two pump stations, a 500,000 gallon level water storage tank in Vestaburg and a 500,000 gallon elevated water storage tank in Scenery Hill.

Kovach said the authority obtained a low interest loan from the Pennsylvania Investment Authority to do the project. A condition of the loan is that all property owners within 250 feet of the water line are required to connect in accordance with municipal ordinances. The tapping cost is $1,000 for each residence, which includes the cost of a water meter, and must be paid after the project is complete.

“Property owners will receive written notification and be given 60 days to connect to the water line once it’s completed and tested,” said Kovach.

Engineer Greg Scott of Nichols and Slagle Engineering said that a lot of people might not realize how many will benefit from this project.

“People in Richeyville and Ridgewood will benefit from this project as well as Scenery Hill,” said Scott. “We also tied in to Beallsville’s existing line because they have low pressure and this will make sure that they maintain pressure. This project will create a better pump and larger tank so that half the borough will have more reliable service.”

The project is meant to serve about 400 homes that didn’t have water and strengthen the entire water system.

Excavation Technologies Inc. is the authority’s contractor for water-line construction. The company is pressure testing the lines and is near completion of its part of the project.

Kovach said the contractors will be responsible for restoration of areas disturbed during the project, including repaving and reseeding. He said the contractors will begin performing restoration as soon as weather permits.

Perkowsky Contractors are responsible for building the pump stations, which will boost pressure for the entire water system. Kovach noted that a generator will be included at the pump stations in case the power should fail.

CB&I Constructors Inc. is working on the elevated water storage tank in Scenery Hill. Weather permitting, CB&I will soon begin painting the tank, and the company had a meeting at the tank with Scott on Wednesday to make sure everything was in order before it begin.

Kovach noted that local resident John Dovshek donated the property for the water storage tank to the authority.

“He just wanted everyone in the area to have water, so he donated the property,” said Kovach, adding that the authority was grateful to receive it.

Greensburg Environmental will restore the property at the tank after the project is completed.

“The authority wishes to express its sincere thanks for the patience and cooperation of the residents in the project area during the past six months,” said Kovach. “This winter has been one of the most severe in recent memory and has made construction difficult. We will be working with the water-line contractor to insure that all restoration issues are addressed this spring.”

Kovach said the project will be complete and operational in June 2003.