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South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977
the MAY 11, 2023
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VOLUME 47, NO. 19
New water tower queued up for SoBu Water bond would require voter approval COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER
With plenty of residential and commercial growth forecasted in South Burlington in the coming years, city officials are preparing to bid out for a second water tower on Dorset Street to increase the city’s water storage capacity to meet demand. The city’s east storage tank, located off Dorset Street, is currently at capacity, with 98 percent of the water stored in the tank either used daily, or allocated for specific needs, such as fire flow demand or water reserved for usage during a fire. While the city gets its water pumped from Lake Champlain by the Champlain Water District, state regulations require that the city begin planning for expanded storage after hitting 90 percent of its capacity. “The concern here is we don’t want to over allocate the city and have to stop all of the great development you guys have been working on,” Jeff Lewis, a project engineer with Aldrich and Elliot, said during a city council meeting. “We’d hate to have water get in the way of all the great things you are trying to do.” The project, in the works since at least 2019, would require the city bond for the project to the tune of $5.7 million, and
PHOTO BY COREY MCDONALD
South Burlington’s east storage tank looms over a home in Nicklaus Circle. The city’s aging water system may need a $5.7 million bond to secure needed updates.
would thus require voter approval during the city’s 2024 town meeting day. If approved, current water users would see an annual increase if about $19.38. First built in 1971, the city’s Dorset Street tower serves the city’s high-service area — one of two water service areas encompassing the city. The main service area covers the Route 7 corridor, while the high-service area covers the rest of the city — including the City Center, the U-Mall, and the Williston Road corridor — which is at a higher elevation and harder to pump water to.
The city’s water is sourced from Lake Champlain and then treated by the Champlain Water District, which pumps water throughout Chittenden County. With the storage tank available, the city doesn’t have to constantly pump water from the source, giving some flexibility to provide for immediate needs like drinking water and more emergency uses like fire hydrant outflow. But new development and future growth is expected to increase the demand for drinking water and other uses.
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“Certainly, we want to be able to serve the city as it is, and as it’s being developed. We need to make sure that we have that capacity,” Tom DiPietro, the city’s public works director, said. “So that’s what this additional tank will do — it’ll set us up to serve that future demand and cover requirements for fire flow from a public safety standpoint.” The high-service area currently uses 70 percent of the water in the tank on a See WATER TOWER on page 13
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