ASHLAND — After a year of construction, the Ashland Area Municipal Authority reservoir project is getting closer to its completion.
The water authority board received its monthly update at Monday’s meeting from Jennifer M. Kowalonek, project manager with Alfred Benesch & Co., who said the underwater work to replace valves is expected to begin next week. The replacement of the valves was not part of the original project but was added as directed by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
The reservoir upgrade project was mandated by DEP and is more than $1 million, which is being financed through a low-interest loan through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure and Investment Authority.
The main task was raising the dam breast by 5 feet so it can better handle major storm events by having water flow through the spillway rather than over the dam walls, which increases safety to communities downstream of the dam.
Kowalonek said there was an on-site meeting with DEP about two weeks ago to discuss keeping a close eye on two issues that may need correction.
“We are currently continuing to monitor the dam as reported at last month’s meeting,” Kowalonek said in her written and oral report. “A seep has presented itself on the embankment as well as an area of embankment movement. We have delineated the area using flaggin and paint. We are also recording the weir flow and piezometer date. No significant changes have been noted since the seep and scarp have been identified.”
She added, “However, prior to making a recommendation to address the situation, all parties have agreed that a period of monitoring is necessary until the upstream valve work and outlet works inspection is complete. We feel as though the movement of the embankment was just a result of the construction activity, and our geotechnical engineer also feels that way. So what we have done is set rebar with levels and we’re monitoring it to make sure there isn’t any additional movement, and once we can confirm that, we will present that to DEP.”
As the reservoir project is winding down, preparations are being made to do a major replacement of a water main at the east end of the borough.
“The design and permitting process has commenced for the East Centre Street waterline replacement project near Groody’s Catering Hall,” Kowalonek said. “A Pennsylvania Department of Transportation highway occupancy permit will be needed for the project and we are expecting to complete the design at this time.”
The water main was targeted for replacement due to the frequency of breaks along the old line. The line to be replaced is 810 feet long and has an estimated cost of $91,000 for construction alone, not including design work.