FAQs

The Hudson City Council has identified areas within the City limits that are currently unserved by a public water system. The goal of the Water System Expansion Study is to identify if property owners in these unserved neighborhoods and currently on well-water would be interested in partnering with the City to expand the existing City of Hudson-owned water system to their properties.  

When the City and Township merged, one of the goals of the City was to provide potable water systems to the entirety of the City. In addition, aging water well systems are in need of repairs or replacement, and some residents contact the City to inquire if they are able to connect to the City’s water system if it is near their property. Residents will also inquire with the City if they can have a new fire hydrant installed near their property to improve firefighting capabilities and reduce home insurance rates. Typically, these properties do not have access to a public water system, and therefore, a new water main installation, along with a service connection is required.  

The Water System Expansion Study is addressing that goal by evaluating property owner interest in initially selected areas within the City’s water system area.

Most often, water mains are installed by developers, not the City. Developers will pay for and install roadways and utilities, including new water mains, during the initial construction of new streets or subdivisions. These major infrastructure construction costs are then reimbursed to the developer, when they sell the new, improved properties.  

When the water system is expanded and new water mains installed, fire hydrants are added along the roadway. The fire hydrants are then used for fire protection which can reduce insurance costs.  

Properties with abutting, public infrastructure such as sanitary sewer or water systems often have higher property values then those without these public systems.

Reduced home water system costs due to reduced or eliminated well usage, and interior plumbing wear and tear from well water.  

The cost for each neighborhood water main installation differs due to various site conditions and lengths of new pipe. In general, the cost for new water main installation is approximately $400 per foot and includes the design, permitting, and construction of the new water main inside the public right-of-way. This cost is being offered to be split between the City and property owner, with the City paying for 25% of the project costs and property owners paying for 75% of the project costs.  .  

Per the Ohio Revised Code, the City is required to rebid a project if it comes in 10% over the Engineer's estimate.

Possibly in the future.  This initial study is focusing on an initial five neighborhoods within the Hudson water system and located in close proximity to existing water mains that can be extended to the adjacent neighborhoods.

Since current property owners are most often responsible for the cost for new water main installations, the City has a Special Assessment Petition that is outlined in Hudson Codified Ordinance 1018.04 to help owners and neighborhoods pay for expensive water main extension projects or other improvements. Under the Special Assessment Petition, property owners who wish the City to install new public infrastructure, like water mains, sign a petition in order to have the City review and approve the request for design and construction of the project. After construction of the improvement is complete, the owners are then assessed for the project costs for their neighborhood. The assessment, with interest, is most often placed on an owner’s property taxes and paid for over an extended period of time, such as 20 years.

If a minimum of 60% of properties in each area sign the petition, we will start moving forward with connecting the area to our water system. If there are not enough residents interested, we not move forward with connecting that area to our system. 

The City will be submitting for a low interest loan of approximately 2.5% from the Ohio EPA for the water system expansion project. The final interest rate will be identified in early 2024.

After the informational meeting, residents will have five (5) weeks to return their voting form noting that they are in favor of the project.  If a petition form is not returned to the City, it will be considered a No vote, and be considered a vote against the extension of waterline.

The overall construction schedule for the waterlines is as follows:

• Fall, 2023 - Collect public input and Public Improvement Petitions 
• Fall/Winter, 2023 – Return to Council with results of Public Input and Petition Collection
• Winter, 2023/2024 – Design plans and submit for loads and approvals from Ohio EPA.
• Summer/Fall 2024 – Begin construction of water system expansions.   
• Final Schedule to be determined and dependent on number of neighborhoods participating in program.

There have been 4 waterline assessments that were located in the following areas with 100% of costs associated with construction, inspection, and design work being assessed to the property owners.

1. 1997 - Eastside Watermain (Barlow Road, Ogilby, Carriage Hill, Goodland, Brewster, Carver, Chatham Way, Mayflower, Eastham Way, Willow Lake, and Miles Standish)
2. 1998 - Terex Road (SR 303 to Nottingham Gate)
3. 2001 - Heather Lane (SR 303 to Inverness Court)
4. 2001 - Lauren Drive (Dead end of Londonairy Blvd. to watermain at Hudson Community Chapel)

E. Barlow Road was paid 100% by the City, this was a secondary waterline loop to the City's water system.

The $10,000 estimated "one-time" fee breakdown is as follows:

The tap-in fees are as follows:

60-70 psi.