After less than five years of operation, the Quinn’s Junction water treatment had to be shut down this year due to high levels of phosphorous and murky water which gummed up the plant’s filters. The plant is capable of processing three million gallons of water per day –water that would be needed in the event of drought or a fire. The fix is a $3.8 million upgrade.
City manager Diane Foster said it’s an incredibly important project because it will accomplish two things.
“Why this is important is that, Quinn's Water Treatment Plant was built so that we could meet our maximum such as fire flow and demand in the summer on our peak days," Foster said. "If we have to shut down Quinn’s Water Treatment Plant - we want to be prepared that should there be a fire in the summer we can have that plant operational no matter what kind of water is coming in. So that’s an important piece. The other piece that’s included in this are some energy upgrades. So what you see staff doing out there – is that – anything they do – any improvements they’re making to any of the water system – we’re always looking at energy efficiency as part of that.”
The plant began operations in 2011 and Foster said this is the first time it has had to be shut down.
The turbidity in the water is sometimes indicative of water being drawn from the bottom of the well, but Foster said not to worry.
“That was not an issue on this one," Foster said. "However, let’s say in the future should Rockport get really low and then we end up pulling more – kind of the gunk from the bottom there – basically Quinn’s will be able to handle it.”
Going from water to land – Lilac Hill plot owner Matt Mullin is hoping the city will rule in his favor making Lilac Hill a legal platted lot of record that would enable him to develop the property.
Foster said there are several things going on with Lilac Hill, the least of which is the questions raised by the Save Rossi Hill group that questioned the zoning.
“This is more about," Foster said. "What are going to be the restrictions on these parcels etc. The neighbors have suggested some things like increased open space requirements, height restrictions, no driveways at all off of Rossi Hill – increased setbacks and floor area ratio.”
She said the neighbors and Mullin have been working together to come to some form of agreement.
"The property owners have come back and they've recommended further restrictions on what staff and the planning commission put forward as beliefs that those are their entitlements," Foster said. "So they’ve actually recommended a minimum of 40 percent open space and that any new development is also required to comply with the design guidelines – not just the historic homes that are existing.”
City Council will meet Thursday at 4:40 p.m. in the city council chamber.