Tractor Supply Company Drills for Water in Owego

Relief is coming for a long-awaited new store in Tioga County that has been unable to open because it did not have a water supply.

Construction of the Tractor Supply Company store on Route 434 in the town of Owego was completed late last year. But Veolia - the company that provides water to nearby homes - balked at providing service to the new store. Veolia was concerned water pressure for other customers could have been adversely affected.

Owego town supervisor Gary Hellmers last spring said Tractor Supply officials decided to drill a well and install two water storage tanks on its property.

Work on the project was delayed until the pumps needed for the system were available. Crews in recent days have started working on drilling the well.

Excavation equipment for a well drilling project at the future Owego Tractor Supply Company store. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

Tractor Supply Company originally planned to start operating the Owego store last January but the water debacle has delayed the opening by a year.

A company spokesperson last May said a soft opening for the location now as scheduled for early February with a grand opening event planned for later in the month.

The garden center area outside the Tractor Supply Company store in the town of Owego. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

The store is expected to employ about 15 people. More than half the positions will be full-time.

The location will include a garden center, a pet wash and a feed center.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @bobjoseph.bsky.social on Bluesky or @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.