Refurbishment of the water tower is now in Fort Saskatchewan's 2025 capital budget.

The $1.3 million project also includes $150,000 to refresh the iconic mural on the water tower.

City Council gave unanimous approval to the project early in its capital budget debate this week.

This refurbishment will allow the water tower to remain in service for another decade, after which it will be kept, but no longer in use as part of the water system.

The water tower is currently used to maintain a constant water pressure to homes during changing water demand, rather than relying on variable rate pumps at the water reservoirs. The tower will be taken out of service when the Westpark reservoir is upgraded in about 10 years time.

The water tower is now planned to remain in place even after it is taken out of service. Officials feel it is a valuable community landmark, and in any case is needed for local cell phone and emergency radio communications.

If the tower were removed, it would have to be replaced by a new communications tower. Officials say this will cost $1 million, or about the same as keeping the tower in place.