A transition to a new sole water source is not like flipping a light switch. For example, the expected transition to serve 60% of Madeira may take two years.
Available water storage capacity (a larger water tower) would become increasingly important to the Village if the intent was to buy water from GCWW since reliability of water supply would be diminished with the loss of an emergency back-up supply contract with a second water source. GCWW will prioritize its customers within the City of Cincinnati over any wholesale and retail customers outside their City limits if they experience any shortages.
Some water system modeling and engineering considerations will be necessary as the current IHWW water system has been designed with the water coming from the current treatment plant on the east side of the system for the last 75 years. The water mains leaving the water treatment plant are large 12”, 16”, and 20” diameter pipes, as it is required to get a large volume of water out to the system and to the storage tanks currently on Miami Rd.
To change direction IHWW water mains receive water may require new water mains to provide sufficient flows. Maintaining large diameter mains on the east side of the water system may create water quality and disinfection byproduct problems in the area and require replacement with smaller distribution mains.
When you chlorinate water, it has a certain life expectancy and must be turned over, or used at a certain rate, to stay within safe tolerances for drinking. The limited number of customers available on the east side to turn this large volume over could present a problem.
There are other potential issues with pH differences as well.