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Resident urges fix for persistent low water pressure in high‑elevation neighborhoods; superintendent outlines pilot approach
Summary
At the Town Board budget hearing, Joel Weingarten of the Birchwood Neighborhood Association pressed the board to fund tying a high‑elevation tank into the distribution system to alleviate long-standing low pressure; Latham Water District Superintendent Dan Seaver said the 2026 budget contains no dedicated funding and described a pilot program and engineering complexities.
At the public hearing on the 2026 budget, Joel Weingarten, president of the Birchwood Neighborhood Association, asked the board whether the proposed budget included funding to tie a high‑elevation water tank into the town's distribution system to address long‑standing low‑pressure complaints in high‑elevation neighborhoods.
"There are residents in that area that have been without proper water pressure for an extremely long time," Weingarten said, describing homes with pressures near 20 psi and asking whether page 53 of the proposed budget (transmission and distribution) included funds for the tie‑in.
Dan Seaver, Superintendent of the Latham Water District, replied that the project would be a capital undertaking requiring borrowing or capital expenditures and that the operating budget presented that night did not include a specific allocation for the tank tie‑in. Seaver warned that the engineering is complex: changing pressure zones can benefit some customers while requiring others to install pressure‑reducing valves in their private plumbing. He suggested a pilot program on a few test streets to see results and solicit homeowner feedback.
Seaver also noted that some of the older distribution piping dates from the 1930s and that boundary points between pressure zones are not clear‑cut; he said the district relies on capital planning and re‑prioritization as breaks and needs arise. The Supervisor encouraged follow‑up between Weingarten and Seaver to explore a pilot and potential project planning.
The budget as presented does not include dedicated dollars for the high‑elevation tie‑in; Seaver identified the issue as a capital project that will require further study and prioritization in the capital plan.
