A group of Carroll residents approached the city council during their meeting earlier this week to seek solutions to a longstanding water pressure problem. Ron Muhlbauer, a property owner in the 1000 block of W. 18th Street, says he and his neighbors have struggled with well-below-average water pressure in their homes for many years.
According to Muhlbauer, the water pressure in his neighborhood measures around 42 psi, which is on the low end of the various levels throughout the city. An average Carroll home has a water pressure of around 70 psi, but it can push as high as 100 psi in the lowest elevations. Virginia Sigwalt, who resides in the same neighborhood as Muhlbauer, says the low pressure is noticeable on a daily basis.
Public Works Director Randy Krauel says there have been steps taken in the past to remedy that area’s water pressure challenges, but to no avail.
Water towers or pump stations can be very costly endeavors, often costing cities millions of dollars to install, and Krauel says that large of an expenditure has yet to be actively budgeted for. Because the issue was discussed during the public forum portion of the meeting, the council was unable to take any formal action, but Mayor Mark Beardmore told the residents their concerns were definitely heard.
Beardmore refrained from promising the residents a solution, but he guaranteed the council’s attention on the issue.
