MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—Aqua Ohio is set to embark on a significant infrastructure project to replace more than a mile of water main along East Church Street and Sargent Street in Marion.
The initiative comes as part of a broader effort to modernize the aging water distribution system.
The project, which entails replacing 6,565 linear feet of water main, targets pipes that were originally installed in 1910. Scott Ballenger, Area Manager for Aqua Ohio, emphasized the necessity of this update: “We continually monitor our distribution system for service issues, and this line has come to the end of its useful life.”
Key details of the project include:
– The replacement of existing six, eight, and 12-inch cast iron pipes with like-sized ductile iron pipes along East Church Street, beginning at Greenwood Drive and extending to Kensington Place. Work on Sargent Street will commence at Center Street and head south toward East Church Street.
– New water main taps will be connected to the customer-owned portion of service lines for 214 homes located along the construction route.
– Construction is slated to begin during the week of April 14 and is expected to be completed by the end of October, with final lawn restoration to take place in the fall.
During construction, traffic will be maintained with one lane open for westbound travel on Church Street, while eastbound traffic will be rerouted to adjacent streets. Residents will be informed of any on-street parking restrictions in active work zones.
Although water service will remain intact throughout the construction period, customers receiving new service taps may experience brief interruptions when connecting to the new main towards the project’s conclusion. Notifications will be sent to affected customers in advance.
Driven Excavating of Crestline, Ohio, has been selected to carry out the project, which carries a budget of $3,475,000.
Ballenger indicated that Aqua Ohio plans to invest over $72 million across its 40 systems in Ohio in 2025, with approximately $10 million earmarked for improvements in the Marion area.