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Engineers brief council on water‑tower siting and system constraints
Summary
City engineers told the council that elevation and existing mains make the currently considered site near Old Acton Road the most feasible location for a second water tower; alternatives could require major line extensions and much higher tower structures if base elevation is lower.
Council heard an engineering briefing on options for a second water tower and the water system upgrades that any new tank would require.
Engineers said elevation at the proposed site near Old Acton Road is favorable for maintaining pressure and matching the existing system's storage elevations; moving a tower to a lower base would require a substantially taller structure to match system pressures and could be exponentially more expensive. They also noted that putting a tower in a remote site could require running 8‑, 10‑ or 12‑inch mains long distances, a cost that in some scenarios could approach the cost of the tank itself.
Councilmembers asked about whether existing mains would need upgrades to serve the location; staff replied upgrades would be minimal if the site is near the larger lines on Old Acton Road, but major line extensions would be required for more remote sites. The council asked staff to continue studying alternatives, factoring right‑of‑way availability, elevation differentials and connection costs, and to report back with more detailed cost estimates.
No formal action was taken; the water‑tower site study will continue as part of capital planning.
