Rehabilitation Work Begins On Holbrook’s Water Tanks

By Tammy Gray-Searles
   Although it won’t be visible to most residents, one of the largest water infrastructure improvement projects in Holbrook in many years started last week.
   One million gallons of water has been allowed to drain from the city’s largest water storage tank, and crews are prepping the tank for a much-needed rehabilitation. The tank was described as being in “terrible shape,” with Holbrook City Manager Carlo Pilgrim previously noting, “The floor is corroded. The walls and floor are dangerously thin.”
   Approximately $220,000 has been set aside in the current budget for the rehabilitation work, which will also include the city’s 750,000 gallon water tank, located next to the million gallon tank on Spurlock Hill. An additional $106,000 will be designated in the upcoming budget to pay for the remainder of the work. In addition, another $200,000 is needed to complete work on the elevated water storage tank near the city airport.
   City officials have applied for grant funding and for federal stimulus funds to help pay for the water tank rehabilitation, but have committed to rehabilitating them whether or not any outside money is awarded.
   Utility Supervisor Armando Aguilera previously explained to the city council that rehabilitation of the water tanks is critical, and that if a tank failed, Holbrook residents could be without water.
   During the work, utility customers should not experience an interruption in service, but Aguilera noted that there may be lower pressure at times.
   Rehabilitation work will start on the interior of the one million gallon tank, with an old tar-like protective coating being removed by sandblasting. At that time, the contractor will be able to determine what additional repairs and welding will be needed. Once the repairs are complete, a special epoxy coating will be placed on the interior and crews will then begin working on the interior of the 750,000-gallon water tank.
   Aguilera explained that the interior of both tanks on Spurlock Hill should be complete before summer, when demand for water increases. In the fall, after the city has started the 2009-10 fiscal year, the exteriors of both tanks will be painted.
   A third smaller tank, located next to the two tanks being rehabilitated, is slated for removal, but demolition is not yet scheduled.
   According to Aguilera, inspection of the interior of the tanks and testing of soil surrounding the tanks must take place before any rehabilitation work begins. The contractor has already brought in equipment and large loads of sand to be used in the blasting process. Testing was slated to begin earlier this week.
   Aguilera noted that new materials being used to rehabilitate the tanks should keep them in good condition for the next 15 to 20 years. He also noted that the contractor estimated that it had been at least 35 years since any similar work had been done.
   Costs for rehabilitating the tank are estimates only at this time, since it cannot be determined how much welding will be needed until the interiors have been sandblasted. The council authorized the $220,000 expenditure this fiscal year with the acknowledgement that additional funding would be needed to complete the project.