FREWSBURG – The town of Carroll is continuing to advance through the projects that will see a host of upgrades to the municipal water district in the town.

These projects not only see upgrades coming to the currently decades old systems, but will also add provisions to monitor water conditions within the town. The first upgrade that the town has been continuing work on is in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Conservation. Water Department Supervisor Daniel Sisson stated that the DEC has been drilling test well locations, with about six drilled so far. Sisson has also stated previously the consideration to utilize the skills of a geologist to determine optimal well locations. The purpose of these test well locations is for the DEC to ultimately install a monitoring well at one of these locations. Sisson noted that this will be beneficial in monitoring contaminants, and tracking the movement of any such contaminants. The DEC is currently set to begin the construction of the monitoring well on Monday, Nov. 24, said Sisson. Sisson stated that construction is only expected to take a couple days.

Sisson also noted that the town was recently awarded some funding from the state for upgrading water infrastructure. Sisson stated that the town received a grant from the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act totaling $5,000,000, which also awards up to $9,000,000 in zero percent loans. Sisson noted that these funds will be put towards upgrading the water tank on Water Street first. The current tank can hold about 200,000 gallons of water. Sisson noted that the town officials are planning to replace this tank with one that can hold 500,000 gallons, along with about 15,000 feet of water line that is expected to be replaced. Along with these upgrades, Sisson stated that there are plans to upgrade the pump house, and even potentially add another water source.

“Right now we have wells out on Ivory near Cole Springs Road. But, we’re going to maybe get a hydrologist in here and look at some more. We did a lot of test wells years ago. Never really found much, but we want them to look at the information,” said Sisson. “Is there someplace closer in town, so that we don’t have to go two and a half miles out to get that new water source?”

Sisson stated that the need for this project is a result of the age of the water systems in the town. The town’s system began in 1948 and the tank that the town is looking to replace has aged out, according to Sisson. Sisson stated that this tank also needs to be painted, something that must be done every 20 to 25 years. Sisson stated that the cost of painting this tank would be within 25% of the cost of a new tank of the same size. While the town is upgrading to a slightly large tank at this location, Sisson noted that the cost still just cannot justify repainting instead of replacing. This new tank will also be a glass line tank, meaning it will not require new paint every 20 years, said Sisson.

Currently, town officials are continuing to plan a water committee meeting that will be open to the public. This meeting would aim to inform residents, and to discuss future matters further. While there is no set date currently, Sisson noted that town officials are attempting to schedule it before the next town board meeting on Dec. 10. For any more information contact 716-569-5365.