Tipton utility details well work, tower cleaning and mid‑September startup for Jefferson Street wastewater project

Tipton Utility Service Board staff reported July 21 on multiple water and wastewater projects including a scheduled pull of Well No. 5, ongoing filter-media inspections with Peerless, completion of a South Water Tower cleaning, and a mid‑September plan to place a new Jefferson Street sewage system into service and decommission the Old West Wastewater Plant.

Staff said Well No. 5 — a deep, submersible pump at the city plant — is due for a 10‑year pull and that the work will likely cost about $35,000–$40,000 depending on findings once crews are inside the well. The board was told the utility will proceed with the pull in the next couple of months.

On filtration, staff described results of a recent backwash inspection and said the manufacturer has raised a concern that media layers in the plant’s filters may show deterioration after roughly 15 years; the utility is working with Peerless to map next steps and said it may elect to do deeper inspections and media replacement as needed.

Staff also reported that the South Water Tower has been cleaned and that Jeff Hurd negotiated a no‑cost arrangement with the tank maintenance contractor for that work. The board was told an electrician is scheduled to begin work the first week of August (about two weeks of effort) to prepare the tower for service; filling and use of the tower will follow while other plant work continues.

On wastewater projects, staff said contractor F & K is working on the Jefferson Street (triangle) project near 200 South and that officials are aiming to turn systems on in mid‑September, at which point the Old West Wastewater Plant would be decommissioned. Underground work is complete, staff said, with remaining electrical work and start‑up activities pending; valve delivery caused a two‑ to three‑month delay earlier but all valves have arrived.

Park 100 was notified that street contractors will begin paving and related work in that area; staff noted the utility completed required water connections and provided contact info for the city street department for traffic‑control questions. Finally, staff said they are awaiting a pretreatment plan from a new customer at the former Stellantis factory and had no new update from the utility/county task force.

Why this matters: The work touches drinking‑water reliability, wastewater system transitions and local construction that may affect nearby businesses and traffic. Timing and contractor coordination will determine when customers see service changes or temporary impacts.

Board next steps: Staff will continue inspections with Peerless, schedule the well pull and carry out electrical and start‑up work on the tower and Jefferson Street system.