Water Line Extension Policy

WESTERN WATER COMPANY, is a non-profit corporation engaged in the supply and distribution of potable water in Brown, Clinton, Clermont, and Warren Counties. It was developed by and is owned and operated by its members who are water users. Funding in large part was provided by The Farmers’ Home Administration (USDA) who continues to monitor the operation of the company. The membership elects five (5) Trustees who approve all water line extensions and improvements. The decision of the Board of Trustees in extending or installing new water lines is based upon “Feasibility”.

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What is Feasibility?
The Board of Trustees wishes to provide water service to all areas where service is needed; however, the company can only supply water to areas where the cost of installation and increased cost of providing more water and water treatment can be paid for by the tap-in fees paid in the area together with the water revenues generated form that area. To make this determination, the Board looks at four things.

1. The projected cost of installing the line and improving the system in order to provide the water service.
2. The number of potential users in the area who have paid their tap-in fee or impact fee, granted recordable and proper easements and signed water users agreements.
3. The projects ability to provide the Company a payback on investment of 10 years.
4. The availability and cost of funds to the company to finance the needed construction.

Generally, if there are enough potential users on the line extension who have signed up and paid their tap-in fees and the project meets the 10 year payback and if funds are available the Board will approve the extension. In general it takes 10-12 potential users per mile to make a line extension feasible, but there are times many more users would be required. If an extension does not meet the ten (10) year pay back requirement, Western Water Company will calculate an impact fee that would make the extension feasible. However, there are times when, for example, a line cannot simply be extended because of low water pressure and must be looped in with another line several miles away in which case the amount of impact fee for the extension would need to be much greater. Many other reengineering considerations may cause the amount of impact fee in an area to vary and could require one area or extension to be considered together with another in order to determine feasibility.

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What do I do if want a water line extended into my area?
First, check with the water company office and see how close you are to a water line and if your particular area could ever become feasible.

Second, if your area could become feasible, Western Water Company will calculate the amount of impact fee, if any would be required. It is necessary that you or your neighbors work in that area to secure the necessary number of water users to sign up and pay their impact fee. Remember those who don’t pay are not counted toward feasibility and it is the efforts of the residents in an area that result in water service.

Once area becomes feasible and funds are available, the Board of Trustees will consider approving the extension.

All extensions must be approved by the Ohio EPA and the engineer of the company.

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