Plans for a new water tank in Rotterdam Junction’s water districts 3 and 4 are moving forward. A public hearing will be held at the Rotterdam Junction Fire House at the Rotterdam Town Board Meeting on Wednesday, May 13, at 7 p.m., to allow residents to ask questions about the project. Engineers from the firm who have assisted the town with the project will be on hand.
It is a necessity not just for fire protection,` said Clark Collins, senior water operator for the Town of Rotterdam. `If there is going to be any growth, the tank that we have now is getting to be inadequate for our demand.`
According to Collins, the tank on Legeri Lane, which is more than 50 years old, is run by pressure pipes instead of an actual feed of water. The new tank will run off of the actual amount of water that is in the tank.
`A water tank is usually run by how many feet of water are in the tank,` said Collins. `That’s how a tank is supposed to run.`
The water tank project will cost an estimated $2 million.
`We’ll probably just bond it over 30 years because right now interest is very low, and we’re hoping to get some stimulus money from the government to help offset some of the price,` said Collins.
He said that in Water District 5, they allow cell phone companies to build towers on top of their water tanks to bring in extra revenue and continue to offset the price.
`We’re hoping for the same thing in Rotterdam Junction,` said Collins.
Collins said that the town is hoping to start construction in July and be finished by fall. He said that construction of the actual tank should take about six weeks. The rest of the project will include putting in a water line, which has to go under the Thruway, as well as other components. According to Collins, the installation of the water line will be the most challenging part of the project because of the Thruway component.
Beside the fact the water tank will be larger, it comes with other benefits.
`This tank is a glass-lined tank versus a solid metal tank. This tank is virtually maintenance free forever because it’s glass-lined,` said Collins. `That will cut down on maintenance fees for the people out on Rotterdam Junction. Plus, this tank is expandable.`
In 20 years if a larger water tank is needed in the town, the platform that it sits on is being designed in such a way that it can be expanded to hold 750,000 gallons. Currently there are about 575 households in Rotterdam Junction.
`We’re planning on some growth, and we’ll be able to handle [it] if there is any,` said Collins.
The proposed location of the tank is off of Rynex Corners Road.
`There’s some town-owned property there in Rotterdam Junction,` said Peter Comenzo, senior planner for the Town of Rotterdam.
According to Comenzo the proposed property stands on a portion of a former landfill. Barton and Loguidice, an engineering firm based out of Albany, are assisting with the project.
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