INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indianapolis church is disappointed with delays in obtaining city water service after Indianapolis Water cashed a $72,986 check to get it turned on.

Bethel United Methodist Church is growing with construction, but it has yet to see city water flowing to its buildings at 5252 W. 52nd St., 6News' Rafael Sanchez reported.

"We'd like to have some water," John Cazares, church council chair.

Construction of the Family Life Center is behind the church's push to drop well water.

Fed up with the smell from the well and the cost of getting it tested, Bethel asked Veolia Water, which runs Indianapolis Water, to connect the church to city services.

That required members to make a financial commitment of nearly $73,000 to lay a 720-foot water main from a neighborhood already on city water to the south and east of the church.

The price does not include what it will cost to connect the church to the water main, which could range from $1,800 to $3,000.

Bethel UMC also had to pay to cut down three huge trees and provide Veolia with an easement of their property.

Despite the initial investment, the church has not seen any work on the project.

The water company cashed the check on Dec. 11 because state rules require the utility to deposit it within 24 hours of receiving money.

"We understand their enthusiasm, and it's not an immediate installation as we would all like," said Lou Ann Baker, Veolia's vice president of communications. "We have a responsible process to follow, and that's what we are doing here."

Before taking action, the water company must first get approval from the Department of Water Works. The board meets on Feb. 18 at 5:30 p.m. in the Public Assembly Room of the City-County Building. The proposal for the church's water main is on the agenda.

Veolia would move faster on the project, but since it was granted an emergency rate hike in June 2009, it must also submit all expenditure plans to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission for review. That could slow down the process by at least 10 days. The IURC has that time period to approve or deny a project.

The earliest Veolia can now break ground on the water main is in March.

"It will cause us a delay in the building, which is unfortunate, because it prevents us from doing some outreach in the community," Cazares said.

The family center is scheduled to open in April.