By Erica Solvig
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MASON - The new Mason High School and community center are experiencing hard water problems, and a temporary softener is needed until service areas are changed later this year, a construction official said Tuesday.

The complex was supposed be part of the city's south service area, which treats surface water. But instead, the building has been in the north service area, where ground water from the Mason water treatment plant is harder, said Alan Polatka, Turner Construction project manager.

The building was not designed with a water softener, and something will be needed until the switch in service areas is made in December, Mr. Polatka told the Mason Board of Education at its Tuesday meeting.

"We're already getting a buildup on a lot of the pipes," said Eric Kantor, school board vice president. "The buildup can damage them."

Early estimates of cost of a water softener for the entire building are between $50,000 and $100,000, said Jim Voorhis of Voorhis, Slone, Welsh, Crossland Architects, the Mason-based firm that designed the complex. The cost would be significantly less if it the softener is only used in parts of the building, such as the kitchen.

The 379,000-square-foot high school opened in September, and the 149,000-square-foot community center should be finished early next year.

The new Mason city building, which opened in September, also lacks a water softener and has not yet switched to the south service area, said city spokeswoman Jennifer Trepal. But there has been no talk of needing a temporary fix, she said.

Water for both the north and south service areas, divided roughly by Tylersville Road, comes through Cincinnati Water Works but is processed at different locations, Ms. Trepal said. The north area was formerly Mason city water but was transferred to Cincinnati in March 2001.

The water mains needed to put the buildings on the south service area are in place. But additional pressure valves are needed because some homes also would have to make the switch, Ms. Trepal said.

The change should happen by the end of the year.

E-mail esolvig@enquirer.com