Published Tuesday, October 29, 2002
Herald Staff Writer
School children were sent home Monday morning as pumps that supply Greenville with water broke down, drastically reducing the town's water reserves.
Until the system is running again -- most likely by week's end -- borough residents are asked to limit their water usage.
The borough has two pumps that draw water from the Shenango River into the water treatment plant: a main pump and a backup pump.
One of those pumps was scheduled to be replaced Friday, said Maria Kerekes, office manager for Greenville's water department. She said the borough just received a letter indicating the pump would be shipped today. Each pump costs about $20,000 to replace, Mrs. Kerekes said.
According to Bill Brady, water department superintendent, the pump scheduled for replacement quit functioning late Saturday. They switched to the backup pump, and it started malfunctioning early Monday morning, he said. It is operating at about half-capacity, Brady said.
Brady said pumps the department uses to drain ditches and the Greenville Fire Department helped pump the water into the filtration system. A spokesperson for the fire department said a fire engine was used as a temporary measure and temporary pumps were to arrive Monday afternoon.
The temporary pumps can meet the most of the borough's water demand, Mrs. Kerekes said. But before the pumps were set up, levels in the borough's three water reservoirs dropped to critical levels, she said.
The permanent pump is expected to arrive today and be installed Wednesday, Mrs. Kerekes said. Municipal officials hope it will be running at full capacity by the end of the week.
Greenville students were sent home because there was not enough water to supply the schools. A recorded message at Greenville Senior High School said schools would reopen this morning unless parents are notified through local media.
You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Amanda Smith-Teutsch at ateutsch@sharonherald.com