Going up: City adds third water tower

Crews from Maguire Iron were in Medford on Tuesday erecting the new water tower that will service a pressure district on the city’s north side.

The tower, located near the Shattuck Street pump station is part of a multiyear project to create a pressure district to address low pressure in the area and allow for future growth to the north and to the east.

Workers from Maguire Iron were busy erecting a new water tower which will serve a pressure district on the city of Medford’s north side. Once put into service next spring, the tower will help address water pressure issues experienced by homes and businesses in that area.

EMILY GOJMERAC/THE STAR NEWS According to city coordinator Joe Harris, north side Kwik Trip and Walmart stores require the use of booster pumps to have adequate water pressure for their fire suppression systems.

The crews have been working for several weeks assembling the tower sections and a crane was brought in on Monday for the work to be done Tuesday. While the tower erection was done this week, it will likely be next spring before the tower will be put into service.

Harris noted that it will require painting, which can only be done when the temperature is above 65 degrees in order for the paint to adhere to the metal tank. There will also be pressure testing and inspection.

The water tower is a project of Tax Incremental District No. 13. Taxes generated from improvements in the district are used to fund infrastructure projects outlined in the project plan. TID 13 stretches along Hwy 13 from Hwy 64 to include Walmart and the surrounding area.