7MG Tank Improvements

December 19, 2022

The contractor finished the majority of the work on our 7MG Tank Project in November and removed the scaffolding and containment system. The team installed the finish coat of paint, and the mural is almost complete. There is still work to be done. In January we will be installing some electrical equipment and performing some site restoration. Due to winter weather conditions, the contractor cannot apply the final coating to the exterior of the tank until the spring of 2023.  

7 mg tank 2


August 29, 2022
The contractor has finished sandblasting the tank, which will now reduce a large amount of the construction noise, and we are proceeding with installation of the intermediate coat of paint. Timing is dependent on the weather and humidity. Since the tank is full of water, at times condensation will form on the tank exterior preventing the application of paint below the water line. However, work is proceeding on the roof of the tank where condensation is not a problem. At this time, the contractor’s schedule shows the work being completed towards the end of October.

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June 30, 2022
While the project was scheduled to be completed in May, the contractor has experienced delays due to a number of weather and staffing issues. The interior of the tank is now finished and sealed, and the District is re-filling the tank with water. The contractor is currently sandblasting the exterior of the tank, but significant issues with the containment system have prevented sandblasting and painting during rainy periods. Sandblasting activities are expected to continue through the end of the July, after which the majority of the project noise will be reduced. Current weather and staffing issues are preventing the contractor from providing a firm completion date, and the work is expected to extend through August.

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April 11, 2022
During the last week of March, the contractor finished installing the containment wrap around the exterior scaffolding. Unfortunately, during a windstorm, part of the containment wrap over the top of the tank was damaged. While it cause some disturbance to the neighborhood, neither the scaffolding nor the tank was damaged. The contractor repaired the damage and has begun pressure washing and sandblasting the tank exterior.

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March 17, 2022
This week, the project is transitioning from the interior to the exterior of the tank. The contractor has finished painting the interior ceiling and walls. Now that the interior scaffolding has been removed, crews can begin sandblasting the floor, which should be painted by the first week in April. On Tuesday, March 15, crews began building the exterior scaffolding, which will then be wrapped in plastic to provide protection from the elements, while also containing the spent sand and paint. Sandblasting on the exterior of the tank is expected to start near the end of March, and will increase the noise in the surrounding area. Even though we are trying to limit the equipment noise generated from the site, it is not possible to completely shield the neighborhood from the noise that will be generated from the sandblasting. However, the sandblasting noise will shift as the contractor moves around the tank. Currently, we are still on schedule to complete project in May. Thank you again for your patience with our work.

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February 4, 2022
On Friday, January 28th, the Contractor finished removing all the old paint from the tank’s interior walls and ceiling. The blasting operation used more than 16,000 cubic feet of sand, which was delivered in 400-pound bags. Currently, the spent sand and paint is sitting on the bottom of the tank. For approximately two more weeks, the contractor will be running a large vacuum to remove all the settled sand out of the tank. The vacuum is a loud piece of equipment, and a temporary wall will be installed around the unit to help lessen some of the noise. The District will continue working with the contractor to minimize noise impacts. We appreciate our customers’ patience as crews continue to work on this important project.

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January 26, 2022
The sandblasting and priming of the tank interior is now close to completion. Once the interior scaffolding is removed, the remaining sand on the floor of the tank will be vacuumed out. By the end of the month, the walls and ceilings should be completely primed and ready for inspection. Once this work is approved, crews will begin painting the intermediate and final coatings. The exterior scaffolding may be installed soon, depending upon site conditions.

During the sandblasting and priming phase of the project, the contractor has been able to turn the dehumidifiers and air filters off in the evenings and over weekends. However, once crews start applying the final two coats of paint, the equipment will need to run 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, and will require refueling over the weekend. Residents can expect an increase in after-hour activities and noise. We thank you for your patience during this time as we work to complete this important project.

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December 16, 2021
Sandblasting continues on the interior of the tank and crews are nearly finished removing of the old paint and applying a prime coat of paint. Because the primer requires a little moisture to cure properly, the contractor has been only running the dehumidifier during the day. However, in January, while the contractor is applying the intermediate and finish coating, the dehumidification equipment will need to operate 24-hours a day. This week, the contractor started performing welding work on the exterior of the tank. This work will last a couple of weeks, and may generate some additional noise during the day. We appreciate our customers’ patience as crews continue to work on this important project. Please contact the District office with quesitons or concerns.

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November 12, 2021
The contractor has finished installing the interior scaffolding and has been setting up the equipment for the removal of the interior painting, and the installation of a new coating system. They are responsible for limiting the amount of sound produced by the equipment. As the contractor sets up the equipment and puts it into operation, District staff will work with them to make sure that precautions are taken to limit impacts to the neighborhood. While the noise during the day may be a little louder during construction hours, at night, the contractor will have to leave the dehumidifying equipment and associated generator running. To reduce ambient noise, this equipment is well insulated, but some noise may still be noticeable. The equipment is necessary to prevent bare steel from rusting before the paint can be applied. In these initial weeks of the painting project, adjustments will be made as needed to reduce the noise coming from the site. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the District office. Thank you for your patience as we perform necessary maintenance on this important water facility.

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October 13, 2021
Last week, the contractor began setting up scaffolding inside the tank. This work will take about two weeks to complete. After the scaffolding is in place, the general contractor, Purcell Painting and Coating will begin installing the onsite generator, dehumidifier, and other equipment needed before removing the interior coatings. During this time, steel workers will begin installing additional anchors around the bottom of the tank to provide additional seismic stability.

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September 22, 2021
This week, staff is preparing to drain the 7-MG water tank in anticipation of turning the tank over to the general contractor, Purcell Painting & Coating, on October 4. Temporary pumps and piping will allow us to use approximately 95%-98% of the water currently stored in the tank. During the week of September 27, these pumps will be running only during the day, and some customers may experience some fluctuation in water pressure during this time. The general contractor is expected to begin mobilizing at the site by early October.

June 14, 2021
At the District, we take emergency preparedness very seriously and constantly look for ways we can improve our resiliency and ability to maintain services, even during times of emergencies. Our water tank improvement projects help maintain water quality, improve distribution, and increase seismic stability. The latest improvement project commencing in the latter part of 2021 focuses on the 7-million-gallon (7MG) water tank located on SE 47th Way. This seismic retrofit and tank coating project will provide improvements to the tank’s existing anchorage system, improve the tank’s venting system, and provide safety improvements for tank access and maintenance. The project will also include the replacement of exterior and interior coatings, and a new landscape mural. Watch this page for regular photo updates as this project progresses.