City reviews status of water tanks

By Larry Blaskey
Douglas Dispatch
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 9:36 AM MST


The elevated water tanks that dominate the view as one drives down 15th Street are now more than 60 years old and in need of repair.


This famous Douglas landmark is now more than 60 years old and is need of refurbishing.

That was the report from Carlos de la Torre, Public Works Director and City Engineer during the Wednesday, February 10 meeting of the Douglas City Council.

The city has three potable water storage tanks:

√ One 500,000-gallon ground mounted tank, built in 1962, on Geronimo Trail Road.

√ Three 300,0000-gallon elevated storage tanks – one on Fairway Drive at the Gold Course and the two others are located at 15th Street Park. All three were installed in the 1950s.

An inspection of the ground tank revealed the need for miscellaneous roof repairs, removal of vegetation, replacing existing roof vents and minor repairs to the exterior concrete work.

The inspection of the three elevated tanks showed that the tanks are structurally sound and overall in good condition. Recommended is the sealing the tank (both the interior and exterior coatings are near the end of their useful lives), lead abatement and mitigation.

It is estimated that the cost of sanitizing and sealing the three tanks will be $300,000 each and the lead abatement and tank re-coating would be $260,000 per tank or about $1.4 million for all three elevated tanks.

One board member asked about replacing the tanks, but the cost is $7 to $10 per gallon to replace the elevated tanks or $2.1 to $3 million per tank.

Phase I construction plans this spring call the recommended improvements on the ground-based tank at the golf course, and finance the improvements over a five-year period.

The city will work on an overall 5-10 year program, which will cost $20,000 to $25,000 annually.

Funds will come from a State Special Project Fund along with funding allocated in the Five-Year Water CIP Plan.

 

Copyright © 2012 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    Ashamed..... wrote on Feb 21, 2010 4:36 PM:

    " Removal of vegetation? Are the water boy's and park's too good to get their hands dirty? What a shame! By the looks of our parks, why even have a park's crew? Wouldn't it be cheaper by contracting outside and doing away with parks and recreation? Besides, what role does the cities recreation center actually perform, when most of the time they are closed? "

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