NORWICH – Despite a recent minor setback that will cost several thousand dollars in unanticipated expenses, the multi-million dollar undertaking to replace the Norwich’s outdated water tank on Wheeler Ave is on track and on budget, according to the City DPW.

Earlier this month, Norwich DPW Superintendent Carl Ivarson updated the city’s Joint Committees on the progress of the project which has been ongoing since 2011. Construction of a new water tank started last year and is now more than halfway to completion, said Ivarson.

Last week, however, the Council approved more than $7,500 in additional funds in order to have NYSEG remove a power line connecting to the existing water tank. The power line needed to be moved due to the size of the trucks that were removing contaminated soil.

NYSEG then had to install new power lines, and that required more conduit and trench digging. Power is a necessity at the water tank so that workers can maintain operating systems that help the DPW collect data on water usage.

“Without electric, we could lose the ability to run that system,” said Ivarson, noting that the expense, while unexpected, isn’t much concern. “We have enough money in our contingency to make this happen. We started with $58,000 in there and right now, it’s probably down to about $8,000.”