The long search for a new water supply for the Henry County Regional Water and Sewer District, including Liberty Center has taken another turn.By unanimous vote, the Henry County water group has voted to merge with the much larger Northwestern Water and Sewer District, home based in Wood County.The Northwestern system draws water from a number of sources, including Lake Erie through the city of Toledo, and the Maumee River through Bowling Green.
The issue is now in front of the Northwestern Water and Sewer District board, to decide if they want to move forward with the merger. That vote could come as early as next month.The Northwestern system covers Wood, Sandusky and Hancock counties, with over 20,000 customers.They were created in 1994.
The Henry County Regional Water and Sewer district, along with Liberty Center began looking for another option due to rate hikes passed along by the city of Napoleon.They were hoping to be an owner of a water district; but even if they join the Northwestern system, Henry County would still have to take the rates charged by suppliers like Toledo and Bowling Green.