Summit Township Elementary School

Pennsylvania American Water plans to file for permits later this month to extend a water line from Hinchberger Road to Summit Township Elementary School.

The water company has not finalized a route for the new lines and is still doing surveying and engineering work, spokesman Gary Lobaugh said.

Houses and businesses along the route will be required to tap-in at their own expense, per township ordinance.

The Butler School Board, at its meeting March 20, voted to send a letter of commitment to Pennsylvania American affirming that the district would spend the money to connect the elementary school to the public water source.

School officials had reported that a tentative plan called for the line on Hinchberger Road to be extended to Herman Road and north on Bonniebrook Road to the intersection with Brinker Road. The school is located on Brinker Road near that intersection.

The water company hopes to have the water in place by the start of the school year Aug. 30.

The township's ordinance dealing with public water service states that any property within 150 feet of a water line must connect to that line within 60 days of being notified.

Township officials said they expect a mixed reaction from the affected residents.

Supervisor Larry Osche said he has heard from residents who are unhappy with their well water, which in some cases is tinted red from rust.

“I have people coming to me, residents tell me they'll take it in a second,” he said.

A full report appears in today's Butler Eagle.