Byrdstown Switches To Solar Power For Water Tank Readings

Electrical functions at Byrdstown’s water tank have switched to solar power after the city installed a new solar panel.

Mayor Sam Gibson said tree limbs would often fall on electrical lines leading up Keisling Drive.

“We have had a lot of problems in the past with tree limbs and trees falling on it,” Gibson said. “And there was going to be some clearing done in that area, so we were going to have to relocate our lines anyway. We just thought it would be more economical.”

Gibson said the three by two panel will provide constant electricity to communicate water levels to the water plant. Byrdstown now has six solar panels in its water system with the other five powering water zone meters. The water tank serves about 1,500 locations.

“We pretty much have it completed,” Gibson said. “There is not a lot of power needed there. Just enough so that we can communicate with our water plant, which is probably five or six miles down next to the lake.”

The installation and purchase only cost the city a few hundred dollars. Gibson said overtime, the panel should pay for itself since city employees will no longer have to clear tree debris.

“In order to be a little of a savings, and also be better to eliminate any problems, we changed it over to solar,” Gibson said. “So that we do not have those wires and all those problems to deal with.”