Engineers recommend replacing undersized Westwood tanks, give multi‑million dollar cost estimates

Power engineering consultant Shane Drew presented the commission with a source‑water assessment and a list of recommended upgrades, saying the town’s current supply was roughly "about 5 MPD" with projections "to 8 to 12 MPD." He recommended replacing Westwood and Old River storage tanks, adding a new booster/pump station at the wetland tank location and adding automated chemical feed and SCADA controls to maintain disinfectant residuals and blending.

Drew warned that the proposed connection "would require a new pump station due to the different, hydraulic frays between the new systems," and that some flow reversals and source‑water mixing would need to be managed. He provided preliminary cost figures: "3,000,000 gallons of detoxation, you'll be looking at 3.5 to 4.5 mil. Elevated tank, 7.5 to 8.5 mil, with a construction sub total of 11 to 13 Mil," and estimated engineering and design at roughly 12–14% of construction costs, bringing the full project toward the mid‑teens of millions. Commissioners pressed about schedule and permitting; staff said design and permitting could take a year to 18 months and construction another 1.5–2 years, for a total project timeline on the order of 2.5–3.5 years.

The presentation also identified service‑area storage shortfalls in northern neighborhoods and recommended prioritizing cast‑iron pipe rehabilitation where source‑water mixing could create water quality problems. The commission did not vote on the tank replacement during the presentation but used the discussion to inform a separate motion to pursue a regional connection and design work.