MIDDLEPORT — Aside from the obvious benefits of a new water and sewer infrastructure system, Middleport and its residents will also realize significant cost savings on repairs and other costs now that its new systems are operating.

A new well is now in operation there, and that will allow the village to operate its water system on a rotational basis, saving on repairs and focusing instead on regular maintenance.

Middleport is one of southeastern Ohio’s biggest beneficiaries from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and has installed a new water well and infrastructure, as well as miles of new sewer lines. This new system will help the village devote time and resources on maintaining systems to avoid major repairs in the future, giving the village a leg up.

“Regular maintenance keeps small problems from becoming huge, overwhelming expensive problems,” Gerlach said.

“We buy new vehicles on a rotational basis so that all the vehicles don't break down at once. How would you find the money to replace them all at once? The same is true in water and sewer systems.”

“ If we put off maintenance so we can keep our rates low, eventually, the system collapses at a time we can't find the millions it takes to get it started again.”

“A great example is our new well that went on line this week. Middleport had been operating on two old wells that were long overdue for maintenance. If we shut one down for maintenance, the other well could not meet our water demands for long.”

“Eventually, they give out. Then what do you do? How long before demand drains the tanks? How long will the repairs take? How much will they cost?”

According to Gerlach, a village well “gave out” late last month, but the village was able to get its new well online and working so service was not interrupted.

“We had pushed to get it online and it was just in time.”

He said the new well, known as number seven, produces more than the other two combined.

“As part of the stimulus program, we had money to rebuild the two old wells,” Gerlach said. “Once all three are up and running, the new controls will work them in rotation, allowing them to pump awhile and rest awhile.”

“They will last longer that way.”

The same is true for the new water lines in Middleport, the mayor said.

“They don't break as often. That lets us spend less man hours on repairs and more on maintenance.”