WESTFIELD–With the recent deluge of snow, some rain and warm temperatures, the Granville reservoir has gotten significantly closer to coming back online.
The Granville reservoir, which was taken offline first in November of last year, then again in December, is still below the average level for this time of year but has gotten significantly closer to the average than where it was in November. And according to Westfield’s water systems engineer Heather Miller, the reservoir may soon be used again, though no firm timetable is available.
A portion of the Granville reservoir as of March 1, 2017. Water has encroached further up from a November 2016 file photo
“We are going to meet and discuss the reservoir soon,” Miller said. “If we get to the point where the spillway is used we may open. Hopefully we open soon.”
The spillway for the reservoir is where the measurement for water levels normally occur in the reservoir. Currently, Miller said that the reservoir is less than half a foot below the spillway.
Previously, the reservoir was at least 12.5 feet below the spillway in November and 11.5 feet below in December.
While the current level is better than where the reservoir was at previously, Miller said that the city is still waiting for the water to not only reach the spillway but also be above it. Miller said that at the end of February 2015, the reservoir was about a half a foot above the spillway and at the end of February 2016, the water was between one-tenth and one-fifth of a foot above the spillway.
According to Miller, flashboards have been installed onto the reservoir, which will increase the capacity of the water source and would allow the water level to go beyond the spillway, as was the case in February the past two years.
A picture of the Granville reservoir on Nov. 14. The shore is expanded and clearly visible, showing obvious drought conditions. (WNG File Photo)
Once it is determined that the reservoir can come back online, Miller said that it would be about two weeks between the decision and the reservoir officially being put back on. This is to run tests on the water and treatment facility and to take care of any repairs that are needed, among other tasks.
She also said that even if the reservoir is put back online, a water restriction is still likely to continue for the city, especially since the area is still in drought conditions.
