Building a booster station to pump water to customers in South Pymatuning Township could cost $100,000 less than supervisors expected.

Supervisors Tuesday opened 10 bids from companies interested in building the station.

The apparent low bid was from Wilson Excavating, New Wilmington, at $249,363. The highest bid was $387,000 from Horizon Construction in Sandy Lake. Supervisors tabled the bids so they can be reviewed by engineers.

Township supervisors had estimated the project would cost about $350,000.

There are 150 customers in South Pymatuning who will get water from Aqua Pennsylvania after Sharpsville leaders last spring tapped the company for services after nixing building a new $10 million plant on their own.

The township signed an agreement with Sharpsville to provide water in 1996, a move that helped to keep Dean Dairy in the township, supervisor Chairman Joseph Christoff said.

Aqua has agreed to pay for design of the South Pymatuning booster station and for one-third of its construction, supervisors have said. Supervisors have authorized borrowing money for the township’s share if needed and are hoping some grants or federal stimulus money come through for the project.

Supervisors Tuesday also authorized an agreement to buy 0.1267 acres on the northwest side of the Shenango River along Buckeye Drive. The township is paying $10,000 for the land from FRZ Inc.

An additional 15 homes on Hunter Street in the township are set to be added on to the water system this year through a $141,000 grant, supervisor Dennis Sump said. The grant should cover all the line construction costs, including tap-ins, Sump said.