New water tower in Alexandria will hold 1 million gallons of water

ALEXANDRIA — If you’ve driven anywhere near the roundabout located at the intersection of County Road 82 and County Road 45 west of the Douglas County Fairgrounds, you have hopefully noticed the new water tower that’s being constructed.

Ted Cash, general manager of ALP Utilities, answers questions about the new tower, including why it is being built, how many gallons of water it will hold, the process and timeline, and more.

Q: Why is a new water tower being constructed near the intersection of County Road 82 and County Road 45? Why was that location chosen?
A: There were several factors that led to the selection of the County Road 82 location. Working with our engineering consultant, we evaluated multiple potential sites around Alexandria and determined this location was the best for the project.

One reason is that a large water main runs along County Road 82, making it a strategic location that fits the city’s future developments in the northwest/western area of the community. Another important factor was land availability and the ability to acquire land in the area needed for the project.

Q: What determines when a new water tower needs to be built? Is there certain criteria that need to be met?
A: There are well-defined engineering planning criteria that determine when a new water tower is needed. There usually isn’t a single trigger, but a combination of system performance, growth and regulatory/industry standards that determine the need for a new water tower.

At ALP, we focus on planning ahead. Projects like a water tower can take several years from planning to completion, so it’s important to invest before additional capacity is needed rather than waiting until the system is under pressure.

Q: How is the size, height and design of the water tower determined?
A: Storage needs, pressure requirements and operational needs are the primary factors in determining the size of the water tower.

Q: What is the process or timeline for building a water tower?
A: Projects of this size typically take between one to three years to complete. Planning for this project began in 2024, followed by site preparation and construction. Ground broke in August last year (2025) and the tower is expected to be fully operational in 2027.

Two major factors affecting the timeline are the site planning and weather. Significant planning is required before construction begins, and Minnesota winters can limit the amount of construction activity that can take place.

Q: What materials are being used to build it?
A: The tower is a composite-style water tower, meaning it is constructed using both concrete and steel. It’s similar in design to the water tower in the Industrial Park (near Douglas Machine Inc.).

The new tower will be approximately 180 feet tall and hold one million gallons of water, compared to the IP tower, which is 140 feet and holds 750,000 gallons.

Contributed photo / Jeannie Eden, ALP Utilities

Q: How long do water towers last?
A: A well-maintained tower can last 75 to100 years. That’s why ALP follows a regular maintenance program. Towers are inspected annually, cleaned approximately every three to four years and undergo major interior and exterior rehabilitation roughly every 10 to 15 years. Most recently, the IP water tower underwent refurbishment in 2024.

Q: Do you have a timeline of when each of the water towers in Alexandria were built and also, how many have been taken down?
A: Two previous water towers have been removed from service due to age and because they no longer met the community’s storage needs. Once the new water tower is built Alexandria will have four towers:

• 3M Tower (double ellipsoidal) was built in 1968 and holds 400,000 gallons.
• Nokomis Tower (oblatoid legged) was built in 1964 and holds 300,000 gallons.
• Industrial Park Tower (composite) was built in 2003 and holds 750,000 gallons.
• County Road 82 Tower (composite) completion 2027 and will hold one million gallons.

Q: Where does the new tower get its water?
A: Like all of Alexandria’s water towers, the new one will receive water from ALP’s water treatment plant.

Water is pumped from one of the ALP’s 11 wells, treated at the plant and then distributed throughout the system, including in and out of the water towers as demand changes throughout the day.

Contributed photo / Jeannie Eden, ALP Utilities

Q: How do water towers work?
A: Water towers store treated water and use gravity to help maintain constant water pressure throughout the system. Water flows into the tower from the treatment plant and flows back out as customers use water throughout the day. System operations continually monitor water levels to ensure the system operates efficiently.

Q: How many homes or what size area will the new water tower serve?
A: While the new tower is located on the west side of the city, it doesn’t just serve those neighborhoods. Alexandria’s water system operates as an interconnected network, meaning all of the water towers work together to serve the entire community.

Q: What is the cost of the new water tower and where will the funding come from?
A: This project is being funded through approximately $6.9 million in General Obligation Water Revenue bonds with a 20-year repayment term.

Water revenue bonds are repaid with water utility revenues. ALP conducts regular rate studies to help ensure rates remain as affordable as possible while supporting ongoing operations, maintenance and infrastructure investments needed to serve the community.

Celeste Edenloff is the special projects editor and senior reporter for the Alexandria Echo Press. She has lived in the Alexandria Lakes Area since 1997. She first worked for the Echo Press as a reporter from 1999 to 2011, and returned in 2016 to once again report on the community she calls home.