Water system is good use of public money

It is always good news when the city of Yuma finds a way not only to save public money, but also improve the way it operates.
 
That is what is happening with work that starts this week on the city's 16th Street water storage tanks - the ones with the Arizona murals painted on them at the Interstate 8 interchange. Water for a significant part of the city is stored there.
 
The city will install a Solar Bee system, which mixes the water in the huge tanks. The most immediate benefit for consumers of city water will be that the water flowing to them from the tanks will taste fresher and be of better quality because it is constantly mixed and doesn't sit as long.
 
There is another benefit beyond that, however, and that is cost savings.
 
The city was looking at having to retrofit the tanks, which involved installing new piping and emptying and recoating the interior of the tanks. Draining the tanks is no small deal as that means the water supply is reduced while the work is done. Redoing the tanks is also expensive.
 
The Solar Bee is an alternative. Kathy Carroll, water treatment manager for the city, explained to The Sun that it uses mixing units to circulate the water in the tanks which will involve a major cost savings over a retrofitting.
 
Additional savings will come from the fact that the mixing system is powered by solar energy from photovoltaic cells. That reportedly will save enough energy to power the equivalent of 20 homes for a year.
 
It could serve as an example for others who may be looking at effective ways to use solar energy, a resource that our area has in limitless amounts. Solar energy can be a good choice if the right uses are found for it, and this seems to be one.
 
It is impressive that this system will not only improve water quality, but the project can also be done for less money and will use solar power to save energy during operation.
 
That's a good use of public resources.