GREENFIELD — The Rocky Mountain water tank will likely undergo a series of repairs this summer, including relining, improved water circulation and new hatches, according to Department of Public Works Director Donald Ouellette.
Ouellette said the town sent divers into the 2.5-million-gallon tank at the end of last summer to patch cracks and remove tree roots, which get into the tank through seams and cracks. He added the tank also loses up to 2,000 gallons of water a day due to leaks.
“We’re now in the process of trying to figure out how to keep that from happening,” he said.
The $1 million repair is part of the Fiscal Year 2017 Capital Improvement Plan, which has yet to be approved by the Town Council. If the project does receive funding, Ouellette said the plan is to drain the tank in late July or early August. He said an engineering firm has already been hired to help develop that plan.
The process will involve drying the tank, cleaning out any debris, sand blasting it and then coating the inside with a spray-on liner.
“It’s perfectly safe, it’s approved by the EPA,” Ouellette said. “We’re looking to seal the entire tank.”
He said 12 hatches on the tank will also need to be replaced, which he is hoping the DPW can do in-house. Those, he said, will provide better access and can also be locked down and sealed more efficiently.
Heavily-corroded, hundred-year-old piping will also need to be replaced and a circulation pump will be installed to prevent water in the tank from becoming stagnant.
“That’s a small project, it’s about $20,000,” he said.
The entire project is expected to take about 12 weeks to complete and Ouellette said the DPW will be working with the Fire Department throughout the process.
You can reach Aviva Luttrell at:
aluttrell@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 268
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