St. Clairsville Officials Prepare for Worst With Water Situation

St. Clairsville officials are preparing for the worst should the main waterlines into the city suffer a catastrophic collapse before an alternate route can be established.

City Safety and Service Director Jeremy Greenwood outlined the situation Monday, reporting water has been found "bubbling up" on the diversion ditch of the interstate on the side of Interstate 70 between Reservoir Road and the bike trail. The two waterlines in question carry water from the water treatment plant into the city. The lines date from the 1930s and 1980s, and Greenwood fears that any attempt to dig up the lines could result in one or both blowing out, leaving the city without water.

Greenwood met with Police Chief Matt Arbenz, officers of the Cumberland Trail Fire District and Belmont County Emergency Management Agency Director Dave Ivan on Wednesday to go over the "worst case scenario." Among the issues on the table were how to stop the water flow while losing as little water as possible, how to provide water for fire service as needed, and the rationing of water to residents.

"This has become priority one," Greenwood said. "Almost all of our other projects have been ... put down lower in the queue."

The city has long planned to upgrade the system and purchase water from Belmont County, establishing a connection at the east end of the city. The current connection with the county for emergency water supply is dependent on the line.

"Even our backup water supply right now comes from these two lines," Greenwood said.

Greenwood said in the event of a break, the valves are close to 40 years old and have never been used and will almost certainly not be able to close and cut off the flow.

If all goes as planned, the line will hold until new waterlines can be laid, either through a conduit at the bike trail or on the south side of I-70.

Greenwood does not yet know when the work might start or how long it might take -- or the cost -- but there is no longer any question about the use of the two payments of $269,262.60 each from the American Rescue Plan Act.

"Consider it gone," he said.