Construction of water pipeline from Harrod to Lafayette.
Photo courtesy of Allen Water District
LIMA — Allen County Commissioners met Thursday to discuss updates on the East Regional Waterline Improvement Project with the Allen County Water District. The project began in 2019 when Harrod and Lafayette requested improvements to their cities’ water. Construction began in September of 2021 and is set to finish this November.
“The waterline project will serve the villages of Harrod and Lafayette as well as Allen East Schools,” said Kimberly Stiles, Allen Water District Manager. “It starts in Westminster near Rudolph Foods and continues to Harrod then all the way to the village of Lafayette. We are installing 12-inch waterlines from Westminster to Harrod then branching off. The main waterlines will be 8 inches waterlines.”
The water will come straight from the City of Lima to provide public water to residents who have primarily used well water. The waterlines will provide water to over 340 homes between the villages and 150 homes outside of the villages.
“We have received a range of feedback but most residents seem to be excited,” added Stiles. “We completed a test and found contaminants in some of the wells so we got quite a bit of funding to help with this project.”
The Allen Water District obtained over $11.2 million in funding which included a USDA 1.75% loan of 3.98 million, a USDA Grant of $4.282 million, a Community Development Block Grant of $1.5 million, an Ohio Public Works Commission 0% loan of $730,000, $250,000 from the City of Lima, $250,000 from Allen Water District, $150,000 from the Allen County Commissioners and $300,000 from the Allen County revolving fund loan.
The funding for this project not only provided new waterlines but also a new 300,000-gallon water tower which has begun construction next to Allen East Schools.
“The tank is going up at the school,” said Stiles “It will be erected by the end of August and they should start painting it immediately after. Allen East is connected to the waterline. Our goal is to try and serve them before school starts.”
The Allen Water District is excited to provide clean and reliable water to residents in Harrod and Lafayette. The organization plans to have a wrap-up meeting with property owners soon.
For more information visit allenwaterdistrict.com.
