The City is currently conducting a water pressure study to address the low pressure/flow in areas of the city. The pressure in town is set by the level of water in the water towers and ground elevations in the city. I submit the following to give you an idea of the elevation change in the city. Every 2.31 feet is equal to 1 psi of water pressure and the two towers are built to be the same overflow height. Now at the west tower is 80 psi or a water level of 185 foot. The East tower is 29 psi or a water level of 67 foot. So there is 118 feet of fall from the eastside of Oelwein to the west.

There are two issues at work here. Flow and pressure! You can upsize piping allowing more water flow or increase pressure to force more water to a given point. Which one will provide the best and most feasible answer? If the answer is increase pressure then there is two ways to supply more pressure, height or artificially with a booster pump. Of course then you must decide how not to over pressure areas that are fine now.

These are the questions and the study will provide the answers. The City will then review the options and begin implantation in the next year.