Replacement of Aged Water Main

The Village of Dryden provides water and sewer services on a community-wide basis. Its public water system was first built in 1892. Much of the Village’s water distribution system was replaced prior to World War II. The mains James/Lake Street neighborhood, however, pre-dated World War II and some were the original 1892 construction. The mains were old unlined iron, were undersized, and did not provide adequate pressure and flow. Frequent breaks left neighborhood residents without water or fire protection. The necessary water system improvements, without grant assistance, would be a financial burden to neighborhood residents.

Thoma was hired by the Village to assist them in securing financing to replace these mains. An income survey of the James/Lake Street’s households showed that 58% were low to moderate in income, making the area eligible for CDBG assistance. During Fiscal Year 2002, Thoma assisted the Village in writing a successful Community Development Block Grant application to replace water mains in the James and Lake Street areas.

With $379,000 in CDBG funds, the Village has replaced 3,950 linear feet of 4-inch iron distribution lines with 8-inch ductile iron; installed nine new flushing hydrants; provided all service connections at the curb box; and completed all pavement and gravel restoration, grading and seeding. The project fully resolved the water problems plaguing this neighborhood.