Potable Water Storage

Tank Asset Preservation

Norwec

Energy

Civil

Coatings, Repaints & Repairs

Environmental

Industrial Tanks & Vessels


[News & Events index]

Caldwell Crews Raise 1 Million Gallon Water Tower in Palestine, TX

Jul 8th, 2011

Installation crews raised a 1 million gallon water tower in Palestine’s Willow Creek Business Park Thursday afternoon, part of the ongoing $4 million South Pressure Plain project OK’d by the city about a year ago.

“I was surprised the tank went up so quickly,” Palestine Utilities Director Robert Sedgwick said. “They told me it would be six to eight hours and it only took about an hour and 10 minutes.

“I am just glad to see it coming to fruition.”

The project, Sedgwick said, was developed as a means to improve with the pressure and volume of water on the south side of Palestine — an area that has seen much construction and growth.

“While we have had plenty of water for drinking and bathing, etc., we have not always had enough for proper fire suppression there,” he explained. “The main purpose of the project is to improve the water suppression.”

The project, which has been under way for about nine months, includes the installation of the elevated tank, followed by the construction of a South Sycamore Pump Station and then the South Pressure Plain water lines to run from the pump station to the tank.

“The city obtained a $2 million grant from the federal economic development agency and is using that in conjunction with a $4 million bond to fund the project,” Sedgwick said. “The water line project costs about $500,000 with the pump station project costing $1.1 million and the elevated tank cost at about $2.1 million.”

The project also includes installation of chemical stations at the pump site and the tank site that will put chlorine back into the water.

“We have been losing chlorine in the water residuals and this will allow us to be able to offer safe portable water,” Sedgwick said. “It is all set to come together for completion by the first or second week in September.”

The tank is being installed by Caldwell Tanks of Louisville, Ky., with the pressure pump and water line projects being done by McKinney and McMillan of Jacksonville. Project engineers are Freese & Nichols of Dallas.

“It won’t take long to fill up the tank,” Sedgwick said. “We have a 1.7 million gallon ground tank that we will transfer water from. There won’t be any problems with that.

“And residents should not see any water cutoffs or issues during the construction of the project.”

** Source: Written by Mary Rainwater, The Palestine Herald-Press