Water Service
Water in New Franklin
Background
We have businesses and residents who have expressed a desire for "city water" as opposed to wells for a variety of reasons. There were only four options for bringing water to New Franklin: build our own water plant and run lines (millions of dollars in costs); get water from Canal Fulton (impractical due to cost and distance); or get water from Barberton (JEDD required and costs involved). The fourth option was Aqua Ohio, a private company with well fields in Massillon, currently serving Massillon, Jackson, and Green and with branches throughout the State and Country. New Franklin entered an agreement with Aqua in 2009, but due to lack of interest and funding no action was taken until 2019 when together we applied for and received a substantial "grant" from the Ohio EPA to cover half the cost of an initial phase to bring water from the area of East Caston and South Main to SR. 93 (Manchester Road). The balance of costs are in the form of an interest-free loan serviced by Aqua.
Phase I
The first phase of Aqua water was installed in 2021. Connecting to the existing water main at S. Main Street and E. Caston Road, the line was installed on S. Main Street, W. Caston Road, Coleman Drive, Catalina Drive, Renninger Road on on Manchester Road from Vanderhoof Road south to Grace Bible Church, just south of Center Road.
Phase II
Phase II extended the water line from Catalina Drive to Rawlins Avenue via Encino Drive, and on Latham Lane to the Tudor House and Portage Lakes State Park Visitors Center. This phase was paid for by a grant from the EPA.
Phase III
Phase III is in its infancy stage and takes on the important work of connecting the existing water line on Manchester Road to businesses further south on Manchester Road to Nimisila Road and connecting to the four Manchester school buildings. If funding permits, the line would also extend south on Renninger Road to Center Road to Will Drive to close the loop and connect to the water main on Caston Road. This part of the route will also benefit the BP remediation area and the properties still affected by the benzene spill and monitored by BP and the EPA. The City is working with Aqua to apply for a principal forgiveness loan similar to the Phase I installation of Aqua in New Franklin. As in previous phases, connecting to Aqua water will be completely voluntary for residents.
Converting to Aqua Water
If you choose to convert to Aqua for public water, you will need to pay a water main assessment fee (lot fee) and customer impact fee. In addition, homeowners who convert from a well are also responsible for installing a service line from the street into the home and either abandoning their current well or installing a backflow preventer device that requires annual testing.
Aqua Ohio has a financing plan available in which most costs including the lot charge, your private service line, and well abandonment costs can be financed over a 3 to 10 year period at current interest rates. You are also welcome to finance through your own bank or loan provider. Aqua estimates the monthly cost for water service should be in the range of $35 to $55 per month depending on usage.
Aqua's residential service installation procedure.
Water Service Installation Firms
View a list of area Water Service Installation Firms (PDF) that can connect the water line to your home.
Eligible Customers
If your home or business is directly on the water route, you have the opportunity to tie into the water line.
To do so, call 330-832-5764, ext. 50666 or email Don Snyder at Aqua.
If you do not live directly on the water route but you are interested in getting water to your neighborhood, let Aqua know by submitting your contact information.