Oxford Township picked up some new water customers last week in the Riverwalk subdivision, off W. Drahner Rd., following the failure of their well.

Township officials voted 7-0 to allow 14 homes to connect to the municipal water system.

Back in June, the Type 3 community well servicing these properties along Brookside and Parkside courts, unexpectedly failed.

A temporary emergency connection to the township system was allowed to keep water flowing to these residents.

Drilling individual wells for the affected properties is not an option, according to the township board’s motion, “due to potential contaminants that could be present in the aquifer” and the county and/or state “may not issue a permit to drill an individual well.”

As a result, the homeowners requested permanent connections to the township system.

It costs $6,075 per home to hook up.

Officials, in a second motion, voted 7-0 to allow the Riverwalk residents to pay this fee in installments.

Each homeowner will make a $1,215 (20 percent) down payment, then pay the remaining $4,860 in four annual installments. A 5.3 percent interest rate will be applied annually.

Supervisor Bill Dunn asked Treasurer Joe Ferrari, “What happens if they don’t pay?”

“It goes on the tax bill,” Ferrari replied.

“Just wanted to make that clear,” Dunn said.

The first payment, be it a down payment or the entire $6,075, is due within 30 days after the permanent connection is made.