Replacing a local water reservoir, could it be in your backyard? - KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and Sports

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) -- Discussions heated up this evening at a Rochester Public Utilities board meeting. As the city keeps growing, there's a greater demand for a larger water storage facility, and a need to renovate the cities oldest underground water reservoir. The concern is where to build it.

The city's current water reservoir was constructed in 1917. It might surprise you to find out where it's located. The 580,000 gallon storage reservoir is adjacent to the river located at 4th street south east.

Right now Rochester Public Utilities is looking at new places they can put the water storage, one suggestion is St. Marys Park.

One of the big concerns is that it's 3.5 million gallons of water that we're looking at, so it's a fairly large structure that people could potentially have in a park near-by their home," said Tony Benson, with Rochester Public Utilities.

Five homeowners near St. Mary's Park voiced concerns at Tuesdays meeting, about having such a large water reservoir in their backyard. Another option brought before the board would be to rebuild on the current site where the underground reservoir is located.

Benson said it's unknown when the board will make a final decision, it is set to be discussed at next months meeting.