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New water tank promises to be one tubular tub
On a hot July afternoon a small crew of construction workers hangs precariously from the scaffolding surrounding Castle Rock's newest water storage facility. They are slowly peeling away concrete forms to reveal a quarter of the tank's outer wall.
By By:Alex C. Pasquariello
On a hot July afternoon a small crew of construction workers hangs precariously from the scaffolding surrounding Castle Rock's newest water storage facility. They are slowly peeling away concrete forms to reveal a quarter of the tank's outer wall.
The 2.5 million-gallon water storage tank is being erected east of Ridge Road, near Founders Village and the Intermountain Rural Electric Association electrical substation. When it is completed, it will serve 2,500 Woodlands and Castle Oaks homes.
"It still amazes me to see the inside," Project Manager Walt Schwarz said from the center of the tank. "It really gives a perspective on the engineering and construction it takes to store 2.5 million gallons of water."
Indeed, the tank is much more than a glorified water bucket; 2.5 million gallons of water would cover a football field with 6 1/2 feet of water. A storage facility of this scale requires detailed engineering and precise construction, which Schwarz has been overseeing since the project broke ground this spring.
As the crew exposes the first quarter of the outer wall, a series of tubes threaded along the circumference of the tank is revealed. After the concrete has set on each portion of the wall, the tubes will be threaded with steel to reinforce the structure.
"The reinforcement system is called post tension, because after the concrete is set, the steel will be tightened to secure the structure," Schwarz said. "It's not unlike an old wooden whisky barrel, which has metal bands around the circumference to make sure it doesn't break."
Inside the tank a series of concrete pillars arises from the circular concrete basin in straight lines. The pillars' primary function is to support the concrete roof, Schwarz said.
"When you drive by a storage facility, it's easy to think that it's just a closed bucket, Schwarz said. "But a lot is required to support the structure, let alone the withstand the pressure from the water."
A large pipe system runs along the diameter of the tank. When it is complete it will be able to handle both the import and export of water from the facility, Schwarz said.
"This tank will receive water from Castle Rock's eastern water treatment plant," he said. "We will control all the valves for this new tank from that treatment facility."
The new tank, affectionately referred to as "Reservoir 16" by Schwarz, is costing the city $1.56 million to construct, nearly $900,000 less than was budgeted for the project.
Schwarz said the savings are welcome and anticipates the tank will be completed on schedule this November.
"It just has to pass a leak test," Schwarz said with a smile as he gazed up at the crew working on top of the new wall. "Knowing that test awaits makes me glad that we have decades of engineering and construction experience to rely on when we build these facilities. I'd hate to have to have built the first tank like this."
The 2.5 million-gallon water storage tank is being erected east of Ridge Road, near Founders Village and the Intermountain Rural Electric Association electrical substation. When it is completed, it will serve 2,500 Woodlands and Castle Oaks homes.
"It still amazes me to see the inside," Project Manager Walt Schwarz said from the center of the tank. "It really gives a perspective on the engineering and construction it takes to store 2.5 million gallons of water."
Indeed, the tank is much more than a glorified water bucket; 2.5 million gallons of water would cover a football field with 6 1/2 feet of water. A storage facility of this scale requires detailed engineering and precise construction, which Schwarz has been overseeing since the project broke ground this spring.
As the crew exposes the first quarter of the outer wall, a series of tubes threaded along the circumference of the tank is revealed. After the concrete has set on each portion of the wall, the tubes will be threaded with steel to reinforce the structure.
"The reinforcement system is called post tension, because after the concrete is set, the steel will be tightened to secure the structure," Schwarz said. "It's not unlike an old wooden whisky barrel, which has metal bands around the circumference to make sure it doesn't break."
Inside the tank a series of concrete pillars arises from the circular concrete basin in straight lines. The pillars' primary function is to support the concrete roof, Schwarz said.
"When you drive by a storage facility, it's easy to think that it's just a closed bucket, Schwarz said. "But a lot is required to support the structure, let alone the withstand the pressure from the water."
A large pipe system runs along the diameter of the tank. When it is complete it will be able to handle both the import and export of water from the facility, Schwarz said.
"This tank will receive water from Castle Rock's eastern water treatment plant," he said. "We will control all the valves for this new tank from that treatment facility."
The new tank, affectionately referred to as "Reservoir 16" by Schwarz, is costing the city $1.56 million to construct, nearly $900,000 less than was budgeted for the project.
Schwarz said the savings are welcome and anticipates the tank will be completed on schedule this November.
"It just has to pass a leak test," Schwarz said with a smile as he gazed up at the crew working on top of the new wall. "Knowing that test awaits makes me glad that we have decades of engineering and construction experience to rely on when we build these facilities. I'd hate to have to have built the first tank like this."
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