Motorists are traveling too fast on the access road to Gilbert Reservoir.
Ken Kane, president of Generations Forestry, shared the information Wednesday during his report at the regular meeting of the Bradford City Water Authority.
Kane explained the visiting public is driving at high speeds, damaging the road and causing safety concerns. Bradford Township Police will be patrolling the area, and 15 mph speed limit signs will be posted on the road.
Kane also reported on the current inventory being done on the Gilbert watershed. The project has slowed due to labor shortages and vacations.
Work is finishing up on the installation project for the new 24-inch transmission main, too.
Bankson Engineers has submitted a permit completion report and construction photos to the state Department of Environmental Protection. Also, both contractors are finishing up the final touches and have punch list walkthroughs scheduled for July 1.
A punch list walkthrough is also scheduled July 1 for the Kenmar Acres main line extension project. To date, 35 new customers have tapped into the water main extension, and eight residential properties still need to tap in. The deadline for mandatory connection is July 1.
Executive Director Steve Disney reported the water authority recognized several employees and board members who reached milestone years of service.
Recognized were Terry Lopus, 5 years; Rocky DeCasper, 10 years; John Schuster, 10 years; Bob Eliason, 10 years; and John Cattoni, 25 years.
Also at the meeting, Disney reported on two 14-inch wide water mains that will be replaced. They cross Marilla Brook just east of Gilbert Lane and south of West Washington Street.
The mains were built in 1914 using cast iron pipe with bell joints sealed with lead, and they were laid on the stream bed. One is the raw transmission main from Marilla Brook and the other sends finished water from the Ann Lane pump station to the Gilbert Lane storage tank. The authority distribution crew had to repair one of the exposed joints that was leaking.
The DEP requires relocated water mains to be installed perpendicular to the stream flow. Also, Marilla Brook is a Cold-Water Fishery (CWF) and Natural Reproduction Trout Stream, so no work will be permitted there between Oct. 1-Dec. 31.
Work is slated for the 2022 construction season.
The authority conducted a bid opening Tuesday for semi-annual water treatment plant chemicals. Univar USA Inc. was awarded the low bid of $245.70 per 100 pounds for liquid chlorine, and JCI Jones Chemical Co. was awarded the low bid of $13.25 per 100 pounds for caustic soda.
Disney noted that the cost of chlorine has more than doubled, which the suppliers say is due to the COVID pandemic.
