Search for More Water Continues at Hamilton

HAMILTON, MO — Discussion continues among Hamilton city officials concerning the city’s water supply and aging water distribution system. During the past six months some 73 water line breaks have plagued the city, many of them major and some breaks leaving residents without water service for a day or more. The city has some $490,000 in unused bonding capacity which could be used as financing to replace the worst of the 2-inch service lines in use. Replacing those lines with 4- or 6-inch lines would require engineering. City aldermen authorized representatives to negotiate with Caldwell County Water District #3 for supplemental water in the case of a continued drought. Hamilton is now in “Stage III” water restrictions since the level of water in the city reservoir is below the upper intake pipe. This stage restricts water usage and increases the minimum penalties for ordinance violations.