By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Planned work to replace water hydrants at the County Park and Lake hit a bump in the road when state regulations entered into the picture of what sort of hydrants can be installed.

Engineer Darin Neufeld told county commissioners four companies bid on the proposed hydrant replacement work. Two bids were substantially higher than the county anticipated because the type of hydrant was different.

The Safe Water Act of 2014 requires more protection from lead levels in drinking water. Only pipefittings certified for potable water can be used for hydrants that supply water for general use.

Bids on replacing 25 water hydrants serving the campground and a portion of trailer parking ranged from $86,059 to $195,425.

Neufeld recommended the county award the bid to Ditchdiggers along with a provision that the contractor not begin work until authorized to do so.

Commissioners voted unanimously to do it the way Neufeld suggested.

This will give Neufeld time to research options, consult with interested parties such as the lake director and water district, and ensure proposed alternatives pass muster with the state.

“There are other alternatives,” Neufeld said Tuesday. “Do I have a clear list right now, with the cost on them? No.”

Neufeld said he will bring information back to the commission at a later date. He expects work will likely begin after Labor Day.

Lake director Isaac Hess said the hydrants serve the campground behind the lake hall and trailer park spots from Pine Tree Ln. to Camper Ln.

“The trailer park owners, there are some of them who will come up during the winter to check on things, but no one lives here year round,” Hess said. “The rules actually say they can’t, even if they wanted to.”

In the meantime, he doesn’t believe use of the camping and trailer area will suffer should nonpotable spigots be installed.

“I think for most of the campers we get here, it would be a slight inconvenience, but they would find a way around it,” Hess said.