FARMINGTON — The Farmington Village Corp.-Water Department will hold an informational meeting Tuesday, Feb. 20, to discuss replacing the earthen water reservoir on Powder House Hill off Anson Street.

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in the corporation office at 137 High St.

Last summer, Dirigo Engineering of Fairfield issued a preliminary report outlining alternatives for replacing or repairing the reservoir, which has been in service since 1936. Representatives of the company will be at the meeting.

The 5-million-gallon reservoir is the department’s primary storage facility. A synthetic liner and floating cover were added in 1977. The liner is no longer useful and the cover has been patched numerous times.

Water Department assessors are planning to build a 2.5-million-gallon cylindrical concrete reservoir next to the old one this summer. The old one will be drained, the liner removed and the reservoir filled when the new one is finished.

Construction costs are expected to exceed $2.5 million, and assessors are pursuing a loan through the Maine Rural Water program. The project will also require an application to the Maine Public Utilities Commission for a water rate increase to pay for construction. Assessors anticipate it will be as much as 25 percent.

The department serves more than 1,600 customers in parts of Farmington, Wilton and Temple.

Project information sheets are available at the department.

For more information, call 207-778-4777.

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