New Waterford, OH Considering Sale of Village Water to Marcellus Shale Driller

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Officials for the Village of New Waterford, Ohio (Columbiana County) are considering a proposal to supply water from a village well to an unnamed company for drilling in the Marcellus Shale.

The Finance Committee discussed it options on supplying water to a company for Marcellus shale mining while balancing it against limits of its supplies.

Village officials want to see if it can supply about 20,000 gallons a day to the company at $10 per 1,000 gallons.

Village Administrator Fred Fink said a well on Elm Street, with limited truck access, might be a possibility.

Fink said it’s unknown how much water the well can supply and Council President Shane Patrone said they need to check to see if it’s usable.

He thought they had about two months to determine how much the well can provide and Fink said, "It might surprise us."

Committee member Doris Ogle asked about access for large trucks and Fink said there was none.

Patrone said, "We have an opportunity, we just have to make it work for us."

The committee took no action, but Fiscal Officer Michael Harold said, "We’ll take it from here … until we find out what we have to do."*

*Salem News (Jun 29, 2011) – New Waterford eyes water sale for gas drilling