News

City acts to extend water to Dana homes with bad wells

By Bill Moss, Published: March 8, 2013

DANA — Dana residents whose wells were found to be contaminated with farm chemicals may get access to Hendersonville water as soon as the city can get it to them.

The Hendersonville City Council acted Thursday night to move quickly to extend a water line to houses affected by the contamination.
Interim City Manager Lee Galloway told the council that the city could apply for a $200,000 grant from a foundation, and up to $400,000 for a Community Development Block Grant.
State officials identified 30 wells in the Blue House Road area off Dana Road contaminated with a chemical that makes the water unfit to drink, he said, but more testing is under way and it's unclear how widespread the pollution is.
"It's a chemical that typically does not mix with water but for whatever reason in this case it has," he said. The testing has shown contaminated water in "one area where in 1961 there was a large cornfield."
Galloway said he had spoken with County Manager Steve Wyatt, who agreed to pursue grants as well to help pay for the water line. The city utility department already had plans to extend a water line in the area with bad wells in 2015. Council members agreed to move the project up to the 2013-14 budget year and pursue grants to pay for it.
"I can't imagine a grant more competitive than (one saying) these 30 people don't have a place to live if we don't get water out there," said Councilman Jerry Smith. "I would be in favor of putting this project on the list for July 1 and we're going to just have to figure out how we're going to pay for it and how we're going to get reimbursed for it."
The council set a hearing for April 4 for the Community Development block grant.