County to pop cork in celebration of pipeline

By MIKE FAHER
The Tribune-Democrat

June 23, 2009 11:32 pm

— SOMERSET – Some much-needed help is on the way for the county’s new Quemahoning Pipeline system.
As county officials prepare to show off the $24 million system at a ceremony next week, they voted Tuesday to hire Carl Jones of Rockwood as chief operator at the water-treatment plant.
Jones will be the plant’s second full-time employee, joining water manager Chris Meyer.
“When you’re making about a million and a half gallons of water per day, and you’re running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it definitely takes more than one person,” Meyer said.
Jones, who was hired at an annual salary of $32,500, has experience in the water business: He has managed Rockwood’s water-treatment facility.
He will help oversee a system that treats Quemahoning Reservoir water and sends it as far south as Somerset.
After years of planning and work, the county began selling water through the pipeline earlier this year. There are five municipal customers: Boswell Borough, Conemaugh Township, Lincoln Township, Somerset Borough and Somerset Township.
The county has a contract to buy 1 million gallons of water daily from Cambria Somerset Authority, which owns the Quemahoning. And that number is expected to increase.
“We see nothing but continued growth,” Meyer said. “I think, in the months ahead, you’re going to see more users come online.”
Meyer said the treatment facility as currently configured can provide 2 million gallons daily.
“The expansion that’s built into the plant would take us up to 4 million gallons (per day),” he added.
On Monday, officials will formally dedicate the new treatment plant and pipeline. A morning brunch and ceremony will include elected officials and anyone who “has been directly involved with the project,” county Commissioner Jim Marker said.
An open house is scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday.
The public is invited to tour the facility, which is accessible by taking
Route 219 to the Jerome exit, traveling north on Route 601, taking a right onto Woodstown Road and a left onto Mastillo Road.