Rotterdam Junction residents listened to a presentation by town officials about the necessity of a new water tank in the area at an informational meeting Wednesday, Feb. 7, at the Rotterdam Junction firehouse.
The idea of the meeting, led by Public Works coordinator Michael Griesemer and Supervisor Steven Tommasone, was to educate residents about the existing water tank and to discuss possible locations and costs of building a new one.
The existing water system serves 577 users in water districts three and four. The average daily demand on the system is 286,483 gallons of water per day. The tank, which was constructed in the 1950s, holds 200,000 gallons of water. It is made of concrete and partially buried in the ground.
In 2003 a study was done on the water tanks in Rotterdam, which exposed the disrepair of the Rotterdam Junction tank. Considering the age and small size of the tank, it was recommended it be replaced. LeMont Engineers then conducted a study of the water system in Rotterdam Junction in 2006 and recommended the town replace the tank, which would improve system pressure and storage and increase fire protection.
This is a necessity for this area, ladies and gentleman. You have a water tank that isn’t capable of taking care of your needs now, Tommasone said.
The town is proposing building a 520,000-gallon water tower. According to Griesemer, the state Department of Health mandates that a water tank hold at least a day’s worth of water. The current tank holds on average 80,000 gallons under a day’s supply. A larger tank would also help with fire safety and satisfy the growing demand on the system.
The town has looked at two possible locations, the first is near the landfill on Pattersonville-Rynex Corners Road and the second at the existing well site on Main Street. Both of these locations were sought out because the town already owns the land.
The project is expected to cost about $2 million depending on the location.
Residents were given a rough estimate of the cost per parcel, but because the town is going through a property revaluation, the numbers are subject to change. The town is seeking state grant money from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund along with federal grant money.
The push for a new water tower is part of the plan to revitalize the area. Tommasone is said he hopes that fixing the Junction’s infrastructure will promote development and bring in business.
`We want to promote the town; we want economic development,` Tommassone said.
Development could also be a way to pay off the debt on the water tower faster. Tommasone said any developer looking to build in the area would have to pay a fee to connect to the water district.
Not everyone at the meeting was pleased with the potential development in the Junction. David McKeon lives in the area and owns a business in Pattersonville. He also owns 30 acres of land by the river, which he said he has no plans to develop.
`We need a comprehensive plan. We don’t want development. The green space we have now is minimal,` McKeon said.
Deputy supervisor Joseph Signore said, `It is ultimately the Junction’s decision. We just have to bring the situation to your attention so if anything does happen, the residents aren’t saying, ‘Why didn’t the town do something.’“