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Hamilton Starts Water Line

By Ben Weber

Since 2000, Hamilton has been waiting to begin laying its new water line. Ever since that time, the Town has had to resort to back-flushing the lines 3-4 times a week to ensure clean clear water as well as place water restrictions on the town during the dry seasons. However, according to Mayor Ray Whitbey, those days are soon coming to an end.

One of the main issues for the project was negotiating with Loudoun County and the County's school system over the lines placement. It was only last year in which Hamilton was slated to have a new 1600 student high school in its backyard, but without utilities, the school would not be able to be constructed and Hamilton was not prepared to offer the proposed school any assistance in that area. Hamilton and the County school system came to terms and construction has begun. The Mayor informed the Gazette that the town will provide water to the new elementary school slated for Harmony once the school is completed. Whitbey indicated that the school and county will not tap into the line for at least ten years, which will ensure that the new high school will have to be built elsewhere before that time.

"This new line will allow us to tap into Well 14 which will double our capacity," says Whitbey. Well 14 is currently producing 350 gallons per minute, yet the Town will only draw upon 240 when the line is fully operational. The cost to the town to run the line is $2 million, one of the more expensive projects that the town has engaged in in the last five years. The school system is paying for a large portion as well which allows for a new treatment facility to be constructed closer to the town's water tower, in addition to the water line. The project does not come without its issues.

The current phase of construction located on the Harmony Intermediate school grounds, according to Bertelson of Heritage Site Development of Purcellville, is expected to take two weeks. Once this is completed, they will move across the street to Hamilton Acres. The town has already received several calls from residents who are concerned about the construction. In order to run the line to the well, a new 8" pipe is required to be buried below the frost line in a bed of gravel. This will require digging up a small portion of numerous front yards, as well as driveways. "We would like to burrow under the driveways, but due to the size of the pipe, it is far too expensive and time consuming," says Bertelson. "We will do a nice job in the community and will restore the yards and driveways to their original condition," he continued. Bertelson stated that construction in Hamilton Acres would take 4-5 weeks.

"We have been waiting for this for a long time," said Whitbey. When the new line comes on line, the town will be able to take the current wells and mothball them for the future or for emergencies."