YORK TOWNSHIP, YORK COUNTY, Pa.-- Lake Redman is looking a little lower than normal, but there is no need to panic. It's only a matter of time until the water levels return to normal.
The York Water Company is installing a new pumping station there and needed to lower the water for construction.
"In a 14 month period with three hurricanes; Irene, Lee and Sandy, our old pump station had some minor flooding," York Water Company CEO Jeffrey Hines said. "We thought if this was a trend, we'd better have a redundant pump station."
The current station is in Spring Garden Township dates back to the 1890s. It will still serve as the primary source of getting water out to customers.
"It's a very robust pump station," Hines said. "It's been around since 1896. In our history, it's only been closed for one day."
Water will be drawn from Lake Redman in the event of flooding or contamination to the primary station. The pump at Lake Redman will serve as an alternative pump.
The current construction has water levels about eight feet below normal.
"They have to build a wet-well, which would be normal water level so that the water flows into the water station so we can pump," Hines said.
He said they waited for boating season to end before draining the water. It's not expected to cause any harm to the environment or the lake's wildlife.
"We work with the fish and boat commission and [department of environmental protection] for when we lower it and [by] how much," Hines stated.
The cost of the pipeline is expected to be about $12 million. Customers will pay for it over the pipeline's life.
"If their annual water bill now is about $400 annually, we're talking $10 a year," Hines said.
The construction is expected to be completed sometime in the spring.