Indiana American Water held a public meeting on Thursday evening at the Sheridan Community Center to answer questions concerning the new Sheridan Water Main Project. The presentation was made by engineering project manager Mike Seals to a crowd of about 15 people.
Phase 1 will construct 10,000 feet of a 20-inch water main from Lamong Road to Spring Mill Road. The anticipated start time is October 2023 and should be in service by April 2024.
Phase 2 will construct 7,700 feet of a 16-inch water main from Lamong Road to the elevated storage tower on the west side of Sheridan. This phase will begin in the first quarter of 2024 and is expected to be complete by the fall of 2024 – before the 2025 planned road upgrades.
The water main will run along the south side of 236th Street and is being installed in many cases by directional bore.
It was admitted that Indiana American Water is trying to obtain a 50-foot right-of-way but really only needed 20 feet. They were asking for the 50 feet to be a nonexclusive easement. A nonexclusive easement exists where the servient owner retains the privilege of sharing the benefit conferred by the easement.
Noblesville attorney Raymond Adler advised that sewer hook-on can be required when there is an available sanitary sewer within 300 feet of the property line in many cases or within 300 feet of the building to be served in rural areas. The water company confirm there could be a charge to hook on.
One participant questioned the procedure of agreeing to an easement before the form was provided. It was disclosed that a three-page easement form is required.
Indiana American Water indicated it had contracted with the County Regional Waste District to provide water. The county is planning a water station in the sewer plan in the Baker’s Corner area near U.S. 31 and 236th Street to service more than 1,000 projected new homes. The county would build a new water tower and booster station near Baker’s Corner. The system would provide 600,000 to 700,000 gallons per day.
Fire hydrants would not be placed in rural areas.
This project is being funded initially by Indiana American Water but will be reimbursed by users. No other routes were considered.
The pipe will be at least five feet deep and will be 10 feet under the bottom of any regulated drain. Any sewer must be 10 feet horizontally away from the water line. It was anticipated sewers would be in 236th Street as a manhole for cleanout is required every 500 feet.