(Sunman, IN) – The Town of Sunman plans to embark on a Drinking Water Infrastructure Improvements Project to modernize its aging water systems, protect public health, and ensure safe and reliable drinking water for many years to come.
Toward that end, town officials are asking residents, businesses, organizations and others in the community to write a letter of support for the project, or sign a petition.
The goal is to demonstrate to federal decision-makers that the proposed $4.7 million, shovel-ready project has strong local support and is critical to the Sunman community’s future.
In addition, officials will be at the town hall until 9:00 tonight (Monday, March 2) collecting signatures of support.
The letters can be personal and simple, and detail why the project matters to you, your family, or your business; the importance of safe and reliable drinking water; support for responsible investment in Sunman’s future, and the value of proactive infrastructure improvements.
Letters should be addressed to:
The Honorable Mike Simpson
Chair, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Submitted through:
The Honorable Erin Houchin
U.S. House of Representatives 1632 Longworth House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515
Or:
321 Quartermaster Court
Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130 (Indiana Office)
If you need assistance submitting a letter, contact Sunman Clerk-Treasurer Cheryl Taylor at (401) 710-1404 or email clerk@towofsunman.org. The deadline is this Wednesday, March 4.
The project would include:
- Water Treatment Facility: Rehabilitation and replacement of aging components originally built in 1950, with 1960s additions now beyond their useful life, including replacement of the high service pumps, revitalization of a pump that previously could not be repaired, and filtration system upgrades as current media is beyond its useful life and leaks are causing operational issues.
- Water Wells: Cleaning and repair of four wells installed between 1965 and 1993, to improve reliability and capacity during peak demand.
- Elevated Tanks: Inspection, tenting, abrasive blasting, repair, and recoating of two elevated storage tanks (75,000-gallon from 1950 and 200,000-gallon from 1981), including safety upgrades. One tank has tested positive for exterior lead-based paint, requiring proper containment and remediation.
- Water Mains: Installation of approximately 5,500 linear feet of new six-inch mains to loop dead-end mains and replace undersized cast-iron mains, improving pressure, hydrant flow, fire protection, and water quality.
The Town of Sunman, which has invested nearly $3 million in infrastructure in the last six years, issued a statement about limited revenue and the need to fund upgrades
“Funding this project now is critical. It will prevent costly emergencies, protect the environment, strengthen public safety, support the workforce, and ensure Sunman remains a thriving, resilient community for decades to come,” reads the statement.
