By ADAM ATKINSON

CANTON – The town is exploring the possibility of setting up two powered-hydrant pump houses in Morley and Pyrites, using donated industrial pumps from a local corporation.

Both communities currently do not have a charged water system for supplying water to hydrants for the fire department.

The town board agreed at their meeting last week to research either the acquisition or easement of property to construct pump houses in both places, and National Grid’s installation of three-phase power to charge the pumps.

Town Supervisor David Button would not disclose the company that would like to donate the pumps, but did say they would be in good working condition and environmentally sound.

Button advised the board that even with the donations the system would still need “engineered, heated block houses and piping installation.” He said that work would cost at least $20,000.

Town Councilman Phil LaMarche said that during recent talks with the fire departments about their overall needs to improve response and service, that hydrants were not mentioned in a “most needed” list.

“They are both hauling (water) now,” said Button. “Look at how their operations would be improved if we could bring water to them.”

The board also agreed that the $20,000 figure would be “a little light” for the work involved.

Councilman Jim Smith said that fire departments battling blazes in Morley and Pyrites currently get their water from the Grasse River. A dry hydrant installed to aid that process a few years ago was damaged by high water.

Before agreeing to accept the donations, the board opted to research the idea further and to get more input from the departments.