Mayor Mathew Young said temporary pumps improved system flow, increasing flow rate by a little more than 20% and pumping up to 300 gallons per minute. Council discussion also noted technical impacts from the higher pressure, including performance changes in existing pumps and the need to replace eight water meter “setters” that blew out during the process.
Before voting, council members discussed whether additional intake pumps are needed. While the state requires only one pump, the mayor, Kenny Stark, and Councilman Alex Wills said it would be better to have two intake pumps even though only one would operate at a time. The new pumps are expected to be stainless steel to help resist corrosion from the alkaline water in the former coal mining strip pit lake.
The council also approved issuing $345,000 in bonds to cover emergency lake pump replacement and repairs to the clarifier and filter building roof at the water plant. The city’s financial advisor said bond financing terms were identified at 4.25% interest after earlier estimates of 5%.