West Salem’s new 750,000-gallon water tower went from being just a pretty landmark to a working reservoir last week.

The tower was filled from Dec. 8-10, said Loren Schwier, water utility superintendent, and there’s been a lot more water movement than might be expected. “With the cold weather we’ve been pumping water out of and fresh water into it this week — like anything else you don’t want water to sit too long in these kinds of temperatures.”

Schwier noted that, at present, the entire 1.5 million-gallon system is operating from the controls at the old tower (the one on the hill behind AmericInn). When controls are installed in the new tower it will greatly increase flexibility.

“We’re waiting on some more machinery for the new tower, but that’s not a problem,” Schwier said. “Once the new controls are installed (sometime this spring) it will be possible to shut down one tower completely. We could work on the old tower while running the system through the new one.”

That would mark a big improvement over what happened five years ago when the old tower was painted. Back then, pressure tanks had to be installed all over town to maintain adequate water pressure while the work was done.

Although the new tower is working fine at present, it will still be drained completely in the spring. “They’re going to drain it and check it one more time,” Schwier said. “It’s more of a warranty issue than anything.”

Another issue — at least for a few people — is the logo painted on the side of the tower that depicts the gazebo in Village Park.

“We’ve had a handful of people tell us ‘You can’t see what it is,’” said Village Administrator Teresa Schnitzler.

Schnitzler added that in her opinion, the gazebo was a good choice. “It is West Salem,” she said, “and I don’t think we could have made it any bigger.”

Village President Dennis Manthei noted that the tower was not meant to be a directional sign or an advertisement for West Salem.

He added that the board checked into the cost of painting a different logo and that the cost — about $25,000 — did not make that alternative particularly attractive.

“The painters would have to hang off ladders 192 feet in the air,” Manthei said. “The consensus I’m getting is that it probably wouldn’t be a good use of taxpayer money — I do think people in the village will get used to it.”

Asked if residents would notice any differences with two towers, Schwier replied that any changes would probably be too small to notice. “The chlorine in the water from the new tower is slightly higher, but we’re talking parts per million so I don’t think anyone will notice,” he said.

In addition, the water pressure might be a pound or two less in summer than it is now (due to the need to pump out water during extremely cold weather to keep things from freezing).

Still, after a lengthy construction cycle that began last June, everything seems to be working as hoped so far.

“I haven’t heard any complaints yet,” Schwier said.