Hawthorne to improve water lines

HAWTHORNE – The last time the water lines were replaced in downtown Hawthorne, the Beatles had not even made it to the United States yet.

That was in the 1950s. But that is soon to change, as the city has a plan in the works that will bring new life to their aged and inefficient pipes.

City Manager Ellen Vause said that the city has hired the Florida Rural Water Association (FRWA) to complete an engineering study for the replacement of the nearly 60-year-old water pipes in the downtown section of Hawthorne.

“The water lines in the area are experiencing problems that 60-year-old cast iron and galvanized water lines commonly have,” Vause said. “This includes breaks, loss of water, corrosion in the lines and insufficient water pressure.”

The decision has been a long time coming, said Hawthorne Mayor Matthew Surrency. Decades ago, it was recognized that a change was needed with the city’s water system, and now the residents will get one, he said.

Talk for developing a plan heated up following the extension of Hawthorne’s wastewater treatment plant, among other projects to improve the city’s infrastructure, Surrency said.

“At our last few meetings, where we set a future plan for long range improvement, this has hit us all,” Surrency said. “We know this is an important need for the community for both the present, and in the future.”

With the current pipes, the city can have trouble meeting the needs of the residents at the exterior of the city, Surrency said.

“Beside the fact that the pipes are the old galvanized type, they are also very small,” he said. “This does not allow us to achieve the volume of water flow we desire.”

Surrency said that along with the pipes, additional technology could be next in line for installation in Hawthorne. The city is always looking to keep an eye toward the future, and the possibility for expanding, he said. Vause agreed with him.

“The new water line proposal would increase the main water lines from 6 inches to 12 inches, with upgraded sizing in the grid,” Vause said. “New fire hydrants and water meters would complete the project, estimated at $1,245,000.”

Not only will the improvements include new hydrants, but possibly a larger water main as well. The overall water quality for the city will also increase, Surrency said.

The city is currently applying for a loan from the Florida Rural Water Association to pay for the complete engineering plans. Once there are completed plans, the city will be able to apply for grants and grant/loan combinations, Vause said.

“At this point in time, the project is just in the beginning stages,” she said. “Depending on the availability of grants and/or loans, the project could start in 2015, or be pushed out additional years as we wait for funding.”

While this is an exciting time, Mayor Surrency said, it is still somewhere in the planning stage.

“My goal is to have us find funding for it in a timely manner without having to place that stress on our citizens,” he said. “We are keeping our eye out for several options to work on the project, and evaluating them constantly.”

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