The design for the replacement Coleman Street Reservoir got a revision after the city’s BC Towns for Tomorrow grant application was denied.
Originally, the city was budgeting for a dual tank system but after the grant rejection and another engineering review it was determined that a single tank would do just as well, according to Chris McIsaac, utilities superintendent.
The aging reservoir needed upgrades and replacement of the reservoir has been on the capital projects list since 2007. Planning for the project started back in 2009 and John Howes, project manager and city engineering technician, said work will begin in September.
The current underground reservoir already has a liner inside and the floating cover on top, which has reached the end of its lifespan, according to McIsaac.
“To replace the cover was just about $750,000 so we did an engineering study and figured, ‘Why would we spend that kind of money when we can replace the reservoir and it will last forever?’ — because we’d have to spend $750,000 every 15 years (to replace the cover) so we’re going to replace the reservoir and get 50-plus years out of it.”
It’s expected to be completed in May 2012.
The old reservoir, located in West Trail, will be filled and used as a general parking space for employees.
In an email, McIsaac explained that the savings from the redesign allowed the city to continue with the project even though they would not be receiving the $375,000 grant they had budgeted for.
The money for the $1.75 million project will come from the federal gas tax and city surplus reserves.