FILLMORE : New Tank to Double Water Storage Room

A $2.67-million water tank that officials say is necessary to accommodate Fillmore’s growing population will not have any adverse environmental effect on the area, according to a newly released report.

The 3-million-gallon tank, which will be installed near Fremlin Drive, would more than double the city’s water storage capacity, said Mark Ryan, the city’s finance director.

Although Fillmore has sufficient water from local wells to meet current demands, the new tank will be needed if the population of Fillmore continues to grow beyond its current level of about 11,212, Ryan said. The extra capacityis necessary in case of fire or other emergencies, Ryan said.

The tank is part of a larger project that includes digging a new well and renovating two existing ones. Also, a pipeline was built that will link the new well with the tank.

The city last May issued $3.47-million in water bonds, and the Fillmore Redevelopment Agency will fund a maximum of $500,000, Ryan said.

Minimum water rates for the city’s customers were raised from $7.50 to $9 per month. In terms of water costs, Fillmore ranks fifth out of the county’s 10 cities.

“We are not experiencing a shortage by any means,” Ryan said. “The reservoir is being built to store additional water.”

Fillmore is “holding developers off at least until we can get” the reservoir and well on-line, said Lynn Takaichi, vice president of Kennedy, Jenks and Chilton, the city’s engineering consultant.

“We don’t want to allow new residential growth” until the new facilities are complete, Ryan said.

According to 1987 plans for the project, 3,500 people will be served by the expanded water facilities, and another well will be necessary by the year 2005, Takaichi said.