Possible changes to town skyline
Cornwall applying for second water tower to improve water quality and pressure
CORNWALL – The town is seeking funding to improve residents’ water quality and pressure through repairs, extensions and constructing a second, taller water tower.
The topic was discussed by Cornwall's council during a regular meeting on April 21. Council will submit three applications for utility funding via the Investing in Canada Infrastructure program, which would cover about 70 per cent of each project's cost.
Coun. Elaine Barnes said the proposed water tower would be constructed in the same location where a new wellfield is currently under development – on a property that's set far back down a dirt road across from Eliot River School on Main Street.
"With a water tower up in that end of Cornwall, it will alleviate some of those issues that have been hanging around for several years," she said.
The existing tower is located right beside Main Street near Cornwall's business park.
Some areas of Cornwall deal with poor water pressure, which the new tower would address, partly because of its additional height.
"The higher they are, the better the water pressure," Barnes said. "It's gravity-fed."
If approved, the new tower would be constructed, and the existing one would be temporarily decommissioned to allow for necessary repairs. It would then re-commissioned. An additional tower would be beneficial in emergencies where power is out to residents for extended periods, Barnes said.
"There's enough water in that tank at all times to sustain a community for a couple of days."
INCREASING CAPACITY
A second funding application would go toward extending Cornwall's water mains to connect with the new wellfield as well as to the existing tower. Having increased water capacity along Main Street would be good for Cornwall's existing and future businesses as well as better allow the town to service areas that currently aren't serviced, Barnes said.
"There's also the possibility that we might be able to service other areas outside of Cornwall as well."
The third application is for necessary repairs to the North River sewage lagoon system.
It was determined that one of the system's berms has a leak which could impact the lagoon's longevity, especially if Cornwall continues to grow in population.
"We saw what happened with Stratford growing so fast," she said, referencing Stratford's past struggles with its lagoon system.