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Belt Desperately Needs New Water Tank, Residents Could Help Foot the Bill

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: Mar 9, 2010 at 6:14 PM MST

Story Updated: Mar 11, 2010 at 10:34 AM MST

Residents of Belt could soon be paying more on their monthly water bill. The tank that supplies water to the tiny town is falling apart and if it is not replaced soon, those who live there could be left high and dry.

Built back in the 1930's, the belt water tank is older than most people that live in the Belt Valley. Residents rely on it for their drinking water and it is also a must during those dry summer months when a wildfire can break out in a matter of seconds. But the tank is falling apart and has long outlived its life expectancy.

Robin Franzen, the water and wastewater for Belt says, "I think years ago there was a hole and they tried to patch it but it looks like its about ready to come out."

Pictures from last winter show the tank is leaking so badly that huge ice formations can be seen on the outside. And that is not all. Steel reinforcement bars are exposed.

Franzen says, "We looked at trying to get liners or repairs done, and talked to some different engineers and came to the conclusion that it was beyond repair."

Residents NewsChannel 5 spoke with say replacing the tank is a must. It is estimated that replacing the tank will cost around $1.2 million dollars. The city is now in the process of applying for help from the state and the national government. The funding would come from grants and loans which means residents would foot a portion of the bill each month. City officials estimate that each person's water bill would go up about five to nine dollars each month.

If the current tank take does fail, there is a smaller back up one but that would require residents to cut back on how much water they use.
If the city is able to secure grants and loans, they are hoping to begin construction next summer.

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