City ready to begin looking for new water tower site

    After more than a year of study, the Clear Lake City Council is continuing to take steps toward re-configuring the city’s water distribution plan.  That may include the elimination of the Main Avenue water tower and the addition of a new tower on the northwest part of town.
    At its regular Council meeting Dec. 19, Jason Petersburg of Veenstra & Kimm, reviewed study results with the Council, pointing to marked improvement in the city’s water

distribution model since completion of a number of projects in the past year.  The improvements are not only improving the flows in the deficient areas of town, but are also providing the City flexibility and options when it comes time to make repairs and upgrades to its three multi­-legged elevated storage towers.
    The Main Avenue water tower was built in 1949 and is in need of repainting.  Due to the presence of lead-based paint, the cost to repaint the water tower is estimated at $700,000.  City officials have been leaning toward taking the tower out of service, however its removal may leave the city with inadequate storage in the future, depending on community growth.  Currently the city has 2 million gallons of storage, and with removal of the Main water tower storage would be reduced to 1.5 million gallons.  The Iowa Department of Natural Resources design standards require that all cities have adequate storage of at least one average day’s demand, and recommend enough water storage to meet one peak day’s water demand.  In Clear Lake’s case, the city is required to have at least 880,000 gallons, or 1 million gallons in elevated storage, and the recommended storage would be 1.6 million gallons. 
    Since the city would meet the minimum storage requirements with the removal of the Main water tower and would be very close to the minimum storage  recommended by the DNR, the city could feasibly remove the Main tower based on current water storage requirements.
    In 2011, Veenstra & Kimm performed fire hydrant flow testing throughout the city.  One test was done with all water towers on line; a second test was done with the Main water tower shut off.  Petersburg reported to the Council that the city’s  improvements to the water distribution system were evident in the results.  Even- Read More Via e-Edition