CHESTER- The Chester Water and Sewer Department in conjunction with the US Army Corps of Engineers are finally kicking off a long awaited upgrade project that will update and modernize the city’s out of date, heavily used water treatment facility.

This will require an eight-hour water outage Tuesday by contractors around 7 p.m.

Over the next eight weeks, officials expect a minimum of four such outages as work progresses.

The work is expected to be done in June.

In addition to completing the water valving project that began in 2018-2019, Chester mayor Ed Wedgewood explained the following upgrades would occur: installation of new backwash tank, refurbishment of filter media tanks with new filter media, updated pumps, repairs to the ancient water aquifer, and the installation of water valves in each neighborhood so water staff can isolate areas of town.

These much needed upgrades will ensure the city’s water treatment system remains viable for another generation.

Earlier this fall, a new roof was installed on the facility.

The new valves will require a few water outages. The idea is to install water valves in each neighborhood first then work inside those neighborhoods.

“We are trying to minimize the effects of these outages by completing the majority of them at night,” he added.

This is a $3 million project made by possible by grants from the US Army Corps of Engineers, Former WV Governor Jim Justice’s Office, and investment by the City of Chester Water and Sewer Department.