Fairfield County spends $1 million to expand wellfield production

LANCASTER - The Fairfield County commissioners on Tuesday announced the purchase of about 85 acres of land in Violet Township from Diley Farms to expand wellfield production.

The price was just over $1 million, or almost $12,000 per acre.

The land sits at the corner of Allen Road and Basil Western Road. The county now produces 1.2 gallons of water per day. The purchase will allow for an additional 1.5 million gallons per day. However, utilities director Tony Vogel said the county drilled a well on the land, but won't use the well field until future development dictates. He said that could be as long as 10 years or so.

"We knew there was water there, so we figured we would secure the land now," Vogel said.

He said the well runs 300 feet deep.

"We are excited to prepare for development of Fairfield County and Violet Township," commission president Steve Davis said. "The additional well field will more than double the capacity of the existing water production and will provide sufficient water for the long-term future."

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The closing is set for June 27. The county is paying for the purchase through enterprise funds, which are non-general fund dollars dedicated to the county water division.

The county utilities department has more than 6,000 customers in Fairfield County.

For more information, call Vogel at 740-652-7121. Information is also available at www.co.fairfield.oh.us/util.

jbarron@gannett.com

740-681-4340

Twitter: @JeffDBarron