Oxford Township’s water system is poised to have an estimated $312,000 in work completed this year.
Last week, the township board voted 7-0 to authorize the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office (WRC) to proceed with a list of repairs, maintenance and upgrades to the municipal system, which currently serves 2,566 customers.
Topping the list is the 500,000-gallon elevated water storage tower located in the Red Barn subdivision, just south of W. Drahner Rd.
WRC Assistant Chief Engineer Amy Ploof stated, in a Jan. 6 letter to the township, the tower requires painting and other improvements costing an estimated $150,000.
‘This work is necessary to maintain the life expectancy of the tower,? she wrote.
Also recommended by the WRC was the replacement of one of the wells that provides water to the treatment plant on Dunlap Rd., next door to the township hall.
This well ‘did not meet alignment standards when drilled,? which ‘led to the failure of the well, pump and variable frequency drive,? according to Ploof.
The well has been out of service since 2010, leaving the other well located there to supply all the water, instead of alternating between the two as was previously done, she explained in her letter.
It will cost an estimated $125,000 to drill a new well and supply it with a new pump and motor, plus an additional $17,000 for a new variable frequency drive.
The WRC also recommended the installation of an insertion meter at the Dunlap water treatment plant for an estimated $20,000. This will help determine the amount of water flow thus providing information that is ‘important in the operations of the water system,? according to Ploof.
Oxford Township will not have to provide any additional funds to finance all this work as a portion of the water bills paid by customers is held by the WRC for major maintenance and capital projects.
Once these projects are complete, Ploof anticipated the township will still have balances of $160,000 for major maintenance and $230,000 in capital reserve.