Plans to construct a booster station that will finally allow Oxford Twp. to fill its new 1-million gallon water tower on N. Oxford Rd. were given the go-ahead by officials last week.
‘The bids are out,? said Supervisor Bill Dunn. ‘They’re ready to go.?
The Oxford-based Trojan Development, Inc. was previously awarded the $540,000 bid to construct a 1,200-square-foot booster station just past where E. Market Street’s pavement ends and install a pressure reducing valve at Willow Lake Drive and State Street.
Construction will begin in October and be completed by late spring next year.
‘Without the booster station, the water tower is inoperable and water pressures will continue to decrease due to the increased usage,? according to Philip Sanzica, chief engineer for the Oakland County Drain Commissioner’s Office.
Construction of the water tower was completed in November 2006. It has sat empty since then because without a booster station there’s not enough pressure to fill the tower.
‘The booster is required to increase pressures to the higher elevations east of the station,? Sanzica wrote in e-mail to the township.
Higher elevations in the Willow Lake subdivision have caused some homes to receive water pressures around 30 psi this summer due to high demand, the lack of a booster station and because the new tower is not in use.
‘Numerous low pressure complaints have been received by our office from residents in this area,? Sanzica wrote. Ideally, water pressures should be between 60 and 80 psi.
The pressure reducing valve planned for Willow Lake is needed because without it ‘numerous water customers would have pressures well over 100 psi, potentially causing damage to their internal plumbing,? Sanzica explained.
‘Residents along Willow Lake Drive will benefit from pressures within reasonable limits,? according to Sanzica, and the valve will ‘prevent potential damage to fixtures, hot water heaters, sprinkler systems, etc.?
Remaining monies from the township’s $10.7 million water bond will be used to pay for the booster station and pressure reducing valve along with up to $330,000 from the township water fund.