Due to the fact that the Village’s elevated water tower has not been painted since 1992, the Village had the outside coating, as well as the interior coating, inspected. The inspection determined that the coating was nearing the end of its life span. This coating protects the metal that makes up the structure of the tower.
The Village recently solicited bids for removal of the tower’s old coating and installation of a new coating. Thomas Industrial, Inc., of Pevely, MO, has been awarded the work.
In order to complete this process, the tower must be taken out of service and drained. While the tower is out of service, the Village has made arrangements to have portable pressure tanks installed to assist with sustaining system pressure. These tanks will be placed in service prior to emptying the water tower.
The Village will start to empty the water tower the evening of September 11, with the intent to have it out of service the following morning. At that point, the contractor will be able to start the job. A protective shroud will partially enclose the section of tower that the contractor will be working on. This will keep the paint chips and dust from drifting into the air.
After the tower is stripped and primed, the final coat will be applied to the surface. Once all painting is completed, the tower will be inspected for quality of workmanship and disinfected prior to being put back into service. Once test results show that it is safe to put the tower back in service, the Village will begin to fill and go back to normal operation.
The coating system that the Village has elected to use carries a 15 year manufacturer’s warranty against UV fading/chipping and has seen life expectancies well past 20 years.
Here may be some questions that you may have regarding this project:
Why is the Village doing this? This project is preventative maintenance that will extend the service life of the water tower. At this point, there are no defects in the metal that would require the Village to perform major welding to repair. Performing the work before major defects occur will reduce the project cost and the necessary down time, as well as help prevent costly and inconvenient emergency repairs.
How will my drinking water be affected? It is the intention of the Village to maintain system pressure with portable pressure tanks. Initially, the Village will issue a boil order for the health and safety of all Village water customers. After confirming the safety of the water with bacteriological samples and pressure checks, the Village will lift the order.
Why paint it now? The current coating is rapidly deteriorating. This coating is protecting the metal, which makes up the structure of the water tower, from rusting and pitting. Performing the work before major defects occur will reduce the project cost and the necessary down time, as well as prevent costly and inconvenient emergency repairs.
Why do we need a boil order? To ensure the health and safety of all Village water customers. Current EPA regulations require that water pressure shall be maintained at 20 PSI or greater. Pressures below 20 PSI create the possibility for potential hazards. Therefore the water department must issue a boil order to protect the customers until the system can be proven safe through the bacteriological sampling.
How long will this take? We estimate that it could take up to 45 days.
What happens if I don’t have water pressure or very low pressure? Please contact the Water Department immediately and boil your water until the water department proves the pressure is correct.
How long should I boil my water? It is recommended that you vigorously boil the water for a minimum of five minutes.
Will the Village notify us when a boil order is issued and when it is lifted? Yes, the Village will make direct contact with the businesses, schools, and nursing homes, as well as place the information on the radio, Village website, and various other media outlets.
How is the Village paying for this project? The Village has been able to use its revenue from the monthly water bills to complete major capital projects like this over the years. The Village will continue to invest in its infrastructure as funding becomes available.
Will the water be safe to use after the tower is painted? Yes, the contractor is using approved coatings and must disinfect the tower after the project is complete. Bacteriological samples will be taken before the tower is placed back in service to confirm the safety of the water.
Will there be any lead removal required? Yes, the tower currently has a lead based primer and the contractor will be removing and disposing of it in accordance to all EPA guidelines.
If there are any other questions, please feel free to contact the Village of Brighton Water Department at 618-372-8484.
