News Briefs: Fundraiser Established for Former Sewer and Water Supervisor

In this week’s news briefs, a community rallies in support of a utility supervisor who was killed on the job, a water district dedicates new wells at a former sanitarium, and Massachusetts approves $100M in interest-free loans to replace aging waterlines.
News Briefs: Fundraiser Established for Former Sewer and Water Supervisor

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An online fundraiser has been established for Michael Stiles, 56, who died March 22 in an accident while on the job as supervisor of the Long Beach Township (New Jersey) Water and Sewer Department.

The Go Fund Me account at gofundme.com/w8vu3ezq has raised more than $3,500 as of March 29. Donations will be used to pay bills and help cover the cost of last arrangements.

“The Township of Long Beach lost a piece of our community yesterday,” noted an LBT Police Department Facebook post the day after what has been described as a tragic accident in Loveladies, New Jersey. “Mike was a great friend, co-worker and a part of our Long Beach family. He will be sorely missed by all. If his smile didn’t touch your life, then you were surely missing out. Rest in peach, Mike. You’re watching over us now.”

Source: The Sand Paper

Water District Dedicates Well at Former Sanitarium
The Crescenta Valley (California) Water District held a ribbon-cutton ceremony March 18 for a new water well located at the site of the former Rockhaven Sanitarium. The well will pump about 400 gpm, enough to serve 1,000 households.

“It’s a significant supply for our area and, during the course of the California drought, it’s even more important to develop a local water supply that meets the public’s needs,” says Thomas Love, the utility’s general manager.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the water that’s pumped from 300 feet underground in the Verdugo Basin isn’t immediately safe to drink. More than 1,200 feet of pipe will transport the water to the nearby Glenwood Plant, where nitrates will be removed before it’s delivered to customers.

The location of the treatment plant is the reason why the water district gained control of the well. Rockhaven is owned by the city, which made it the owner of the well, but the pumping site was too far for Glendale Water & Power to treat the water.

Last year, Glendale leased the site and water-pumping rights to Crescenta Valley Water District for $140,000 a year, according to the report.

“It’s a win-win,” Love says. “We get a new water supply. It’s less expensive than our imported water.”

Source: Los Angeles Times

$100M Loan Program Aims to Replace Lead Waterlines
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority has launched a $100 million interest-free loan program to help municipalities cover the cost of replacing more than 28,000 lead water service lines.

According to the Boston Globe, the new initiative will provide funding to cities and towns for eligible lead service line replacement projects in 47 communities it supplies. The communities would have 10 years at zero interest to pay back the MWRA.

Communities would be able to develop their own programs for replacing the lead service lines. Some communities may ask property owners connected to the lines to pay for a portion of the work.

“I am proud that Massachusetts is taking proactive measures to ensure that residents have continued access to clean drinking water,” Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement. “The loans being provided by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority will allow communities to take the steps necessary to modernize their drinking water infrastructure and keep Massachusetts’ families safe and healthy.”

Source: Boston Globe



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