Meander Creek Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Meander Creek Reservoir |
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| Mahoning Valley Sanitary District Reservoir | |
 Meander Creek Reservoir
Location in Ohio
Meander Creek Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Mahoning / Trumbull counties, Ohio |
| Coordinates | 41°06′33″N 80°48′43″W / 41.10917°N 80.81194°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 906 ft (276 m) |
The Meander Creek Reservoir is a large lake in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, near Austintown, Ohio. It was created along Meander Creek. This reservoir is owned by the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District (MVSD). It is the biggest supplier of clean and safe drinking water for many people in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
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About Meander Creek Reservoir
The Meander Creek Reservoir is a vital source of water. It provides clean drinking water to thousands of homes. The reservoir is managed carefully to ensure water quality.
How the Reservoir Was Created
People in the Mahoning Valley started asking for a water district in 1920. Cities like Youngstown and Niles needed a reliable water supply. In 1925, Youngstown and Niles decided to form a water district together.
The district bought its first piece of land in 1927. This land was purchased from Josiah Kirkpatrick. A road in Austintown, Ohio, called Kirk Road, is named after him.
Many ideas for water sources were considered. Finally, they decided to build a dam on Meander Creek. This dam would create the large reservoir. A water purification plant was also planned. The whole project cost almost $9.2 million.
Construction of the reservoir began in 1929. It was finished in 1932. That's when the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District (MVSD) officially started operating. Later, in 1944, McDonald village also joined the district.
Providing Clean Water to Communities
The Mahoning Valley Sanitary District (MVSD) began supplying water in 1932. It provides clean water to the cities of Youngstown and Niles. The Village of McDonald also receives water through a special agreement.
These cities then distribute the treated water to many surrounding areas. This includes places like Girard, Canfield, and Lordstown. About 225,000 people in total use this water.
The MVSD is a public organization in Ohio. It follows rules set by the state government. A special court and a Board of Directors oversee the district. The Board of Directors has four members. Two are from Youngstown and two are from Niles.
The district's job is to supply, treat, and store water. They also manage the main water lines. However, they do not handle the final water distribution to individual homes. That is done by the member cities themselves.
Reservoir Size and Capacity
The Meander Creek Reservoir is quite large. It is about seven miles long. The reservoir covers 2,010 acres of land. It has a shoreline that stretches for 40 miles.
The reservoir can hold a huge amount of water. Its total capacity is 11 billion gallons. The Mahoning Valley Sanitary District owns a lot of land around the reservoir. This land covers 5,500 acres. It is surrounded by 35 miles of fence.
The district has planted 4 million evergreen trees on this land. This area also acts as a safe place for fish and wildlife. For safety and water quality, the public is not allowed to enter this area. This means no hunting, boating, or fishing.
Water Treatment Process
The MVSD can treat up to 60 million gallons of water per day. In recent years, they have pumped about 21.5 million gallons per day on average. The water from the reservoir goes through a special treatment process.
They use advanced technology to clean the water. This process makes the water pure, safe, clear, and sparkling. It is also soft, which means it has fewer minerals. This treated water is then sent to Youngstown, Niles, and McDonald.
Managing Operations and Technology
The MVSD works hard to keep its operations running smoothly. They have a team of employees who maintain the facilities. The district uses a system called SCADA. SCADA stands for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition.
This system helps to automate some parts of the water purification process. It means some tasks that used to be done by hand are now done by computers. This makes the process more efficient.
The district also plans for its future needs. They create a five-year forecast. This helps them plan for expenses and improvements. They want to make sure they can continue to provide excellent water service.
Mineral Ridge Dam
The dam that created the Meander Creek Reservoir is called the Mineral Ridge Dam. It is an earthen dam, meaning it is made of compacted earth. It was built in 1932.
The dam is 60 feet high. It is 3,480 feet long at its top. The dam can hold a maximum of 62,000 acre-feet of water. The Mahoning Valley Sanitary District owns and operates this important dam.
