A pair of ordinances introduced two weeks ago to fund the construction of a new well for Seaside Park’s water utility, as well as the repainting and maintenance of the Decatur Avenue water tower, were approved on final reading Thursday night.
While both items represent major expenses for a small community, the digging of a new well is the most costly – though officials say construction a new well will end up costing just half the price of maintaining an existing one.
The new well, which will be located underground and tap into an aquifer hundreds of feet below, will replace what has become known as “well number 10.” The borough appropriated $2.6 million in bonds to establish a new well and treatment facility. Well 10 is not operable, and the cost of installing a treatment facility necessary to ensure the water that is drawn from it is clean and clear would cost about $4 million, said Borough Administrator Karen Kroon. Thus, the decision was made to dig a new well with a built-in treatment facility that will provide clean water immediately.
Well 10 will be abandoned.
The Seaside Park water tower at Decatur Avenue prior to maintenance, Oct. 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)
Another bond ordinance set aside a maximum of $1,041,000 for the water tower project, which will include maintenance on the northern water tank in town, located on Decatur Avenue.
While the project will include the repainting of the exterior of the tank, the bulk of the work occurs inside the tank itself.
“They’re going to go over the inside, check for leaks, get rid of the rust and paint it,” said Councilman Frank “Fritz” McHugh when the ordinance was introduced. “Then they’re going to paint the outside too. We just have to find the right vendor to do it.”
The Seaside Park water tower at Decatur Avenue prior to maintenance, Oct. 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)
Painting the interior of the tank is, arguably, more important than its exterior painting since a barrier coat protects the integrity of the tank and the water inside it. The water, of course, is treated before reaching residents’ homes. Several years ago, a similar project was performed on the southern water tower near 13th Avenue. It is expected the Decatur Avenue water tower maintenance will take a shorter amount of time to complete since that tower does not have communications or cellular antennas attached to it.
No public comment was made on the water projects; both bond ordinances passed unanimously.
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