Magnolia

Water System Project Updates – July 1, 2024

The Town currently has two ongoing projects and one completed project, all focused on improvements to the water system:

1. Water Pumps Rehab Project – During the initial phase of rehab on Well #2, it was determined that, due to still-undetermined circumstances, the well structure had become compromised, making rehab impossible. After discussion with the rehab vendor and engineers from Verdantas, it was the group’s consensus that a new well needed to be drilled.  That process took place during April, May and June, with the new well coming online the last week of June. The rehab project will now focus on Well #3 during the summer. The funding for these projects is being taken from both the ARPA federal funding we received in CY 2021 as well as rainy-day funds of the Town itself.
2. Water Storage Tank Planning Project – Our current water storage tank is approaching 100 years of age and needs to be replaced by a newer, larger and taller version. Since last fall the large lot on East Main Street that contains Pump House #2 has been extensively surveyed and investigated by engineers with Verdantas. This site has been deemed appropriate for the new tower and, although we do not yet have funding for a new tower, we are using $50,000 of Capital Improvement Funding provided by the State of Delaware plus a $50,000 match grant from DE Division of Public Health to support this planning piece of the larger project. Discussions are ongoing as to available funding to cover the cost of the new 100,000 gallon tower itself, which would likely run over $2,000,000. 
3. Regular scheduled cleaning and maintenance of the existing water tower was completed by our vendor Southern Corrosion. It involved emptying and cleaning of the tank, which holds approx 50,000 gallons of water for the use of residents and the fire service. 

We continue to work to provide the best possible water to our customers. Thank you. 

Town of Magnolia