Hiawatha asking residents to conserve water during tower repainting project

The city of Hiawatha needs water customers to not waste any water for the next 60 days.

Officials are planning to repaint one of the city's two water towers, both inside and out. And that will put some strain on the whole system although water officials say there should be plenty of water for 2,500 customers.

The approximately $400,000 project is the first repainting since 1980 for the tower, located on Robins Road in Hiawatha. Crews move in sometime after noon on Tuesday to begin setting up equipment, and the city plans to begin draining the tower on Wednesday. Workers will drape the entire tower with a canvas cover as part of the repainting project.

Water officials say the city's wells are all operating and should provide plenty of water during the project. However, with only one of two water towers in service, water pressure could fluctuate during periods of heavy usage.

The city does not anticipate any problems and is asking for conservation only as a precaution.