After recommendations from engineering firms and community outreach, the Port Washington Water District Board of Commissioners, announced last week they will move forward with the $5.1 million project to replace the 80-year old Beacon Hill water tower.
“The Board did not want to make a decision without first speaking with the community,” PWWD Commissioner Mindy Germain said in a statement on April 6. “The construction of a new tank will cause some inconveniences for those who live closest to the site, but we will work hard to mitigate the impacts. It was our priority to ensure residents know what to expect during construction and to open up a line of communication should they have any questions or concerns.”
The 102-foot-tall water tank, located on Longview Road was built in the 1930s, and serves approximately half of the district’s 30,000 residents in the villages of Port Washington North, Manorhaven, Baxter Estates, Flower Hill and Plandome Manor.
After several inspections conducted by H2M Architects and Engineers, they discovered various areas of concern in the existing tank, which “is at the end of its useful life,” district Superintendent Paul Granger said.
The district and its engineers reviewed three options to fix the deficiencies with the existing tank including a ground storage and booster-pumping station, rehabilitation, or full replacement.
Meetings were held with local elected officials, environmental leaders and residents closest to the tank’s site. A public meeting was held at the Port Washington Public Library on March 15, giving the community an opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions.
Officials said a full-tank replacement was determined to be the best and most cost-effective option for the community. The tank replacement project, they said, will safeguard the continued health, safety and sustainability of the district’s water supply and distribution system.
Bill Merklin, senior vice president at D&B Engineers and Architects P.C., said at a March 15 meeting that the water district favored replacing the existing tower with a new elevated pedestal spheroid tank rather than making repairs.
Merklin said this design will have limited connection points, as well as sharp and exposed edges, making it less susceptible to rust and discoloration.
The replacement option, he said, will also be less expensive to repair and maintain.
“Water tanks designed today are more resilient, easier to maintain and better equipped to optimize water pressure during times of peak demand and fire emergencies,” chairman of the PWWD’s Board of Commissioners David Brackett. “Replacing the tank now with one that meets today’s stringent safety and structural standards will guarantee this vital component of our water supply infrastructure is in sound condition for decades to come.”
Brackett said financing for this project is already in place.
Construction of a completely new Beacon Hill tank is estimated at $5.1 million with annual cost at $585,000 to the district.
Officials said this figure considers the new tank’s capital, operating and maintenance costs required over the next 45 years.
Officials said building a new tank would be a long-term investment and provide residents with a lower annual cost compared to rehabilitating the existing tank.
“As the tank replacement project progresses, we will continue to supply the community with information each step of the way,” PWWD Commissioner Peter Meyer said. “We understand dedicating a portion of our website and establishing a 24/7 point of contact during construction is important to our residents. Making sure they are informed and know what to expect during each stage of construction is a priority.”
Officials said the website will be updated frequently with information on the status of the project and residents are encouraged to call 516-767-0171 or email info@pwwd.org for answers to questions they may have.
