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Keokuk Water Tower 40% Complete

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wium/local-wium-916497.mp3

Keokuk, IA – General Manager Bill Cole says Keokuk Water Works' new storage tower is about 40% complete. The structure, at this point, looks like a 100' tall grain silo with no top.

Cole says actual rainstorms have been the only reasons for crews to stop working near the former Lincoln Elementary School.

Workers are currently attaching the base of the storage tank to the tower, which requires a great deal of welding.

The structure will boost Keokuk's above-ground storage capacity from 2,000,000 gallons to 6,000,000 gallons. There are a pair of 1,000,000 gallon towers near County Market.

Cole says the increased capacity is important for fire protection in the downtown district. He says it would also benefit the city during power outages or disasters.

Cole hopes to have the structure completed by the end of the year. He says it should be painted next summer and filled by late October/early November of 2011.

Cole says water lines leading up to the tower have already been installed.

The project is expected to cost about $7,000,000. He says state and federal funding will cover of that.