The Seneca Valley school board Monday put an end to plans by the Harmony Water Authority to replace an aging water tower near school district property.

The board voted unanimously against the authority's request for an easement and right of way on the grounds of Connoquenessing Valley Elementary School in Zelienople.

The authority hoped to build a 500,000-gallon water tank that would be more than 90 feet high and located a few hundred feet behind the school. It would replace a tower about a third of that size that holds a 200,000-gallon tank.

The board's decision could delay the authority's plans for replacing the old tower by up to a year.

Board members cited safety concerns and long-term maintenance plans as their reasons for denying the request. Concerns about a water tower that would weigh roughly 4 million pounds when filled to capacity falling on the school were enough to convince board members not to approve the request. More than 800 students attend the school.

The authority had hoped to have an answer to its request last month when Paul Cornetti, a consulting engineer for the authority, made a presentation to the board concerning the proposed plans for replacing the water tower.

Mr. Cornetti said at that time the replacement tank was needed to help keep up with demand from the growing residential and commercial developments in the area. The authority's distribution area covers Harmony and parts of Jackson.

The authority also is looking at the possible replacement of a second tank on the Seneca Valley secondary campus.

There are alternate sites that can be used for the new water tanks, but none of them are considered as desirable as the location behind the school.