Editor's note: This story has been corrected. A street name was incorrectly identified in the original version.
MADISON - The village of Albany Thursday asked utility regulators to approve a $452,735 replacement for its leaky standpipe.
Leaks in the 120,000-gallon standpipe were detected by Public Works staff in late May. After an inspection, the leaks were located along three sides of the bottom of the standpipe in the grout layer. The grout was cracked and may have trapped water instead of shedding it, according to a report by consulting engineers Mead & Hunt Inc.
Water was leaking at a rate of one gallon per minute. The standpipe was taken off line in June and drained by staff to alleviate concerns that it may tip over.
A 2014 inspection found that the pipe's exterior coating was failing and the interior coating needed spot repairs.
At the time, the standpipe was sandblasted and repainted, said Lonnie Gill, director of public works.
The 80-foot-tall standpipe functions likes a water tower providing storage and pressure capacity to the village's water system, Gill said.
The standpipe is sized to meet existing water demands. Future demands are estimated to be equal or less than current demand, according to the standpipe construction application submitted to the Public Service Commission.
The pipe serves as a backup to the village's water tower in case it would need to be taken offline.
Repairing the 44-year-old standpipe was considered, but rejected, due to the project cost and uncertainty of future maintenance costs, said Gill.
Instead, a new 120,000-gallon stand pipe will be erected on the same site after the current one is taken down. The standpipe is located in a wooded area north of Mineral Street and east of Ruebens Cave Drive. The village's ballfield is located to the southeast of the standpipe site.
The project includes replacing the water main serving the standpipe and some electrical work at the village's two wells, said Gill.
The project could result in a 17 percent increase in water rates, according to the application, if the village receives a state loan with a 40 percent principal forgiveness provision.
There has been no serious discussion about the project's impact on water rates, but "there will probably be a (rate increase)," Gill said.
Average residential customers currently pay $76.10 quarterly for 9,724 gallons of water. A 17 percent increase would bump that amount to $89.37. If the village submits a rate request to the PSC, a rate increase would depend on the project's cost, the utility's request rate of return on the value of its infrastructure and water usage.
After state approvals are obtained, the project would be bid in December, the existing standpipe would be removed in April, installation of the new standpipe would begin in May and completed in July, according to the application.
MADISON - The village of Albany Thursday asked utility regulators to approve a $452,735 replacement for its leaky standpipe.
Leaks in the 120,000-gallon standpipe were detected by Public Works staff in late May. After an inspection, the leaks were located along three sides of the bottom of the standpipe in the grout layer. The grout was cracked and may have trapped water instead of shedding it, according to a report by consulting engineers Mead & Hunt Inc.
Water was leaking at a rate of one gallon per minute. The standpipe was taken off line in June and drained by staff to alleviate concerns that it may tip over.
A 2014 inspection found that the pipe's exterior coating was failing and the interior coating needed spot repairs.
At the time, the standpipe was sandblasted and repainted, said Lonnie Gill, director of public works.
The 80-foot-tall standpipe functions likes a water tower providing storage and pressure capacity to the village's water system, Gill said.
The standpipe is sized to meet existing water demands. Future demands are estimated to be equal or less than current demand, according to the standpipe construction application submitted to the Public Service Commission.
The pipe serves as a backup to the village's water tower in case it would need to be taken offline.
Repairing the 44-year-old standpipe was considered, but rejected, due to the project cost and uncertainty of future maintenance costs, said Gill.
Instead, a new 120,000-gallon stand pipe will be erected on the same site after the current one is taken down. The standpipe is located in a wooded area north of Mineral Street and east of Ruebens Cave Drive. The village's ballfield is located to the southeast of the standpipe site.
The project includes replacing the water main serving the standpipe and some electrical work at the village's two wells, said Gill.
The project could result in a 17 percent increase in water rates, according to the application, if the village receives a state loan with a 40 percent principal forgiveness provision.
There has been no serious discussion about the project's impact on water rates, but "there will probably be a (rate increase)," Gill said.
Average residential customers currently pay $76.10 quarterly for 9,724 gallons of water. A 17 percent increase would bump that amount to $89.37. If the village submits a rate request to the PSC, a rate increase would depend on the project's cost, the utility's request rate of return on the value of its infrastructure and water usage.
After state approvals are obtained, the project would be bid in December, the existing standpipe would be removed in April, installation of the new standpipe would begin in May and completed in July, according to the application.