STERLING - The town of Sterling's water and sewer issues were mostly resolved at a board meeting Monday night. Thanks to the highway department, water lines were hooked up to a new well that was dug behind the old highway garage, a former cheese factory, supplying spring water to the Sterling Town Hall, the old schoolhouse museum, and the garage.

“The water coming out of that well is as sweet as sweet can be,” highway superintendent Paul Kelley said. “I like the water in the cooler better than bottled water.”

Kelley said the water from the new well supplies 30 gallons per minute, while lines from three old wells only flowed at two gallons per minute. The project involved digging 1,800 feet of trench to the new

well across Route 104A. Kelley reported that the historical society complimented the town for running the new lines and might be installing a holding tank at the museum. Besides drinking water, the pressure will also facilitate flushing in the restrooms.

William McVea, mayor of Fair Haven and vice chairman of the Cayuga County Soil and Water Authority, asked the town to resolve an issue related to the village sewer district.

The town board unanimously agreed to support the authority's intent to contract with Wayne County Water & Sewer Authority to provide sewerage operation, maintenance and treatment services within Cayuga County for Sewer District No. 2.

Since law prohibits the Wayne Authority from providing this service to a municipally owned sewerage system, it has to wait for the municipality to ask for the service in a resolution. The village of Fair Haven has also requested the service. The final request will bear signatures of the village, town and Cayuga County Soil & Water. This document will allow the sewerage to be treated in Wayne County at its facility.

How to get rid of a well was a question raised as an offshoot of Roger Malcott's proposal to add a new water line to his barn. This would involve his connecting it to a well on town property that the town would like to abandon.

At the previous town board meeting, the question of whether or not new services could be added without creating a health problem was raised. If there are too many services on the line, some type of treatment plan would be needed and paid for by those using the well. Since Malcott did not indicate whether he would replace or add anything to existing lines, the matter was turned over to the town attorney and Malcott's attorney to sort out.

If the town abandons the well, it has to address a number of issues such as an easement on town property to whoever takes it over. Town supervisor Joan Kelley said she would contact the town attorney to get information on the options.

Another water project involved a request for a special permit by David McIntyre to operate McIntyre Spring Water Distribution Center on property at 883 State Route 104A, Sterling. McIntyre was asked to provide a detailed plan to the planning board, which he has not yet provided.

“We need to be very cautious,” Kelley said of approving that project. To that end, hydro geologist Todd Marsh, of Eastern Environmental Resources Management, a Sterling resident, was consulted by the planning board to find out how best to protect the village wellhead and to get information on aquifer issues. Marsh reviewed the village of Fair Haven's Wellhead Protection Plan and suggested that the town and village establish a well ordinance.

Marsh met with the planning board in June to find out what was needed to get a special permit for his business. He said he had drilled five wells 50 feet deep and plans to have a 1,500-gallon truck to deliver water to customers. He would also allow people to fill up personal water tanks at his center. He said he wasn't planning to develop a bottling plant at this time.

While McIntyre has his own team of engineers and experts, the town is also consulting with Marsh and the state to make sure that such a project will not have a negative impact on existing water sources.

In other news:

* The town received a $400,000 Community Renewal Grant on Aug. 11 which would provide low-income homeowners with an average grant of $20,000 to repair their homes. People are already calling to find out how to qualify.

Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net