TRURO - A structural engineering study will be conducted on an aging and substandard water tower in Debert.
Colchester County will spend up to $20,000 on an external/internal study to determine the structural integrity and remaining service life on the tower near the intersection of MacElmon's Road and Plains Road.
The tower, which was put into service in 1976, has received a number of repairs over the years, including having it equipped with post-tensioned steel cables around the bottom portion of its circumference in 2001, when it was determined that portions of the tank were bulging.
"The inspection in 2006 found a number of leaks but concluded that the post tensioned steel cables are holding well and that the tower is structurally stable and is providing the service it was designed to provide," a staff report to council reads.
But the 2006 study also recommended the tank be drained every two years to look for signs of aging and debonding.
Another issue with the tank is that it supplies water to areas that are actually nine metres (30 ft.) higher than the tower itself. A pumping system is in place to help remedy that situation but the overall setup results in low water pressure to some areas.
"Obviously they can't deliver adequate pressure," Public Works Director Ramesh Ummat told council at its last meeting, of the community's wells and pumping system.
According to the staff report, a visual inspection carried out by engineering staff earlier this month confirmed water leakage continues from the tower "and has possibly increased since the last inspection."
As well, no internal inspection of the tank has been carried out since 1991, despite the consultant's recommendation to do so.
Should the pending engineering study recommend the tower be replaced, a site investigation will be carried out to determine the best location. Cost estimates would also be put forth at that time.
