Oakland begins water projects

OAKLAND — Several major water-related projects are taking shape in Oakland.

Construction is slated to begin this month for a new drinking water pipeline along East Oakland Avenue, Public Works Director Mike Parker wrote in an Oct. 14 staff report to the commission.

This improvement eventually will serve the needs of future development along Oakland Avenue and the eastern section of the State Road 50 area.

The town also is moving forward with its water-system improvement project at VanderLey Park. Park said the town is now testing and evaluating the new facilities and expects them to be placed into service in mid-December.

Town officials and residents have expressed their desire to have the 500,000-gallon water tank hidden as much as possible, and the commission recently approved Parker’s request to plant larger trees in the park. Several trees had to be removed to make way for the tank.

The new tank will cover the needs of the town for the estimated population for the next 30 years, Parker said.