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Boonsboro says reservoir replacement on track; Crestview bypass faces funding gap
Summary
Town staff told Washington County commissioners the new 1,000,000-gallon reservoir is being switched over and remains on track for June 2026, but a related Crestview pressure bypass project faces a $335,000–$835,000 potential shortfall.
Rachel (staff member for the Town of Boonsboro) told Washington County commissioners the town completed a water-line switch to the new system this week and remains on schedule to finish a reservoir replacement in June 2026.
The update matters because the reservoir and related work provide drinking-water capacity and redundancy for Boonsboro. Rachel said the new reservoir will hold about 1,000,000 gallons divided into two 500,000-gallon tanks so one tank can be taken offline for cleaning while the other supplies the town.
Town staff briefed commissioners that the county previously provided $1,400,000 toward the reservoir. Rachel said reservoir bids came in lower than the engineer’s estimate, but a separate Crestview Water Pressure Reduction and Bypass project carries a larger funding uncertainty. The engineers’ estimate for the Crestview project is between $1,600,000 and $2,100,000, plus roughly $70,000 for engineering and design; depending on final costs the town expects a funding shortfall of either about $335,000 or about $835,000.
Rachel described next steps for both efforts: finish the remaining water-line tieover (one day of work), pour footers and slab for the new tank once the supplier (Dutchland) arrives, and complete permit review for the Crestview plans, which are at roughly 90% design.
The town also reported other water and wastewater changes that affect operations. A sludge dewatering press at the wastewater plant is finished; Rachel said the installation went about $151,000 over budget but will save about $148,000 per year on biosolids removal. The Shafer Park well is now online and the old well has been decommissioned. Rachel also noted the Shafer Park walking trail is complete and is about a mile long.
Town and county officials did not announce any new county funding at the meeting; Rachel did not provide a final funding source for the Crestview shortfall. Commissioners present praised town staff for project management and said they would continue communications as costs and bids are finalized.
Looking ahead, town staff said the reservoir completion remains on the calendar for June 2026; further work on associated pressure-reduction components depends on permit approvals and final contract bids.
