Estevan’s water tower is receiving some improvements, thanks in part to funding from the federal and provincial governments.
Shane Bucsis, the water services manager for the City of Estevan, said a mixer is being installed in the water tower to help with recirculating the water. Another mixer is being installed at the Smith Street reservoir for improved water circulation.
“What we find is over the summer months, it’s very warm, and with warmer water, it starts to create stratification, which is the temperature zones within the water, and that causes the chemical to separate out our monochloramines.”
It will also help with ice buildup in the winter months.
“With the water moving inside the water tower, it’s harder for ice to form,” said Bucsis.
The two mixers create fresher water, so the city doesn’t have to use as much chlorine.
Work on the mixer project started a few weeks ago, and is expected to wrap up early next month.
The project was included in the water services division’s capital budget. And it is receiving funding through the gas tax from the other levels of government. The city has to apply to the other levels of government to get the approval for gas tax funding.
Bucsis noted that last year the funding from the gas tax went to the blowers upgrade at the wastewater treatment plant.
In addition to the mixers this year, the gas tax funding will go to a new potassium pomegranate feeder.
“The gas tax is calculated per capita, and then they’re giving us the money to go towards different projects,” said Bucsis.
If the city doesn’t use the amount of money allocated to it through the gas tax this year, then that money can be used next year.
The current gas tax arrangement started in 2015 and will expire in 2020.
The other project for the water tower this year will be the its annual cleaning in the fall, in which the building will be drained and a crew will be sent in with fire hoses to wash it all down. It takes about a day of work.
