The water tower in Derby.
DERBY – At the entrance to the high school/middle school campus, elected officials and employees of the Regional Water Authority used seltzer water to christen a 1 million gallon water storage tank on Thursday (Oct. 10).
The move marked the end of a controversial story in Derby – where to put the 57-foot tall tower. Officials said the tower is needed to supplement water pressure and fire suppression in west Derby, a densely populated area that is also home to Griffin Hospital, one of the project’s chief advocates.
But it took 13 years, three administrations and a lawsuit to get to Thursday’s ceremony.
Then …
Regional Water Authority (RWA), the water tank’s owner, originally wanted to put the tower on private land at the top of “Telescope Mountain” off Summit Street.
Neighbors opposed the location in 2011 and 2012, and so did then-Mayor Anthony Staffieri.
The RWA went back to the drawing board, and came back with a new location – off Nutmeg Avenue in the woods next to the Derby High School/Middle School entrance on Chatfield Street.
Mayor Richard Dziekan supported the new location, along with the Derby Fire Department.
The Derby Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen and the water company worked out a deal in 2018 in which the city leased city-owned land (about 2 acres) for $1 a year for 99 years so RWA could build the tower.
A resident said a deed restriction prevented the tower from being located on the property, which is across from the entrance to Osbornedale State Park, where such development is prohibited. The resident tried to get a judge to stop the construction, but wasn’t successful.
RWA officials spray seltzer on the tower on Oct. 10, 2024.
And Now …
The background was water under the bridge on Thursday. Officials stressed the tower provides more reliable and better service for RWA’s 13,000 customers in the area.
The project cost $5.8 million. Construction began in July 2022 and was completed in December 2023. Guerrera Construction of Oxford served as the general contractor for the project, and DN Tanks and Tighe & Bond, both from Massachusetts, served as tank contractors and consulting engineers, respectively.
Sunny Lakshminarayanan, RWA vice president of engineering and environmental services, said the finished project represents much more than just a tank full of water.
“As we formally dedicate this new water tank today, let us remember that it is not just a large structure filled with water,” he said. “It is a beacon of our collective efforts to make the necessary investments in the water infrastructure to ensure our communities continue to thrive.”
Derby Fire Commissioner Gary Parker said the additional water storage will be beneficial to the fire department and the citizens it serves.
“Historically on this side of town, there’s been issues with the water pressure,” Parker said. “I’m not aware of any cases where we’ve (run out of water), but we’ve had to put extra pumpers on to pump the water to where we need to go. This tower takes that need away.”
Former Mayor Dziekan was also on hand for the dedication. He was glad to see the project finally come to fruition.
“We have a great piece of equipment for the westside of Derby servicing 13,000 homes and businesses, servicing Griffin Hospital with better water pressure and volume for years and generations to come. And with the added benefit for the fire department, I think people can sleep a little better knowing there’s more water in the area,” Dziekan said.
Following the speaking presentation of the ceremony, city and RWA officials grabbed some pressurized bottles of seltzer water, aimed it at the tower and squeezed the handles to officially christen the massive structure.
Derby Mayor Joe DiMartino said the dedication marked a significant milestone for Derby.
“This new water tank represents a promise to our residents that we are dedicated to meeting their needs today and for generations to come,” DiMartino said. “Water is the center of our community. It sustains our families and supports local businesses, including Griffin Hospital and our firefighters.”
A 57-foot tower in a spot that used to be woods is pretty visible.
The Valley Indy asked an RWA official if a city or school logo or mural of some kind could be painted on the tower. However, RWA engineers don’t allow such projects due to maintenance issues and costs.
