Athol, Water System Improvements
The City of Athol approached Keller with concerns over low water system pressure, two leaking water tanks at the cemetery, and inadequate fire protection. Keller prepared a Water Master Plan, designed improvements, and provided bidding and construction support.
One of the primary goals of the planning effort was to raise water system pressure throughout the city. Rather than expending funds on a new booster pumping facility—resulting in more mechanical components that would increase maintenance and cost—the City elected to raise the entire hydraulic grade of the system approximately 53 feet, resulting in a system-wide pressure increase of 23-psi. To accomplish this, the existing elevated tank was heightened with new leg extensions and the cemetery tanks were replaced with a taller standpipe style tank.
The City now has a water system with higher pressure, sufficient fire flow, and adequate water supply that they can easily monitor, operate, and maintain, meeting both their current needs and the next 20 years of growth and beyond. This project took home a first place 2023 ACEC Idaho Engineering Excellence Award for Water Resources.