Water tank back on-line

By vincent todaro
Staff Writer

By vincent todaro
Staff Writer

SPOTSWOOD — Borough officials are breathing a sigh of relief now that they can check "water problem" off their list.

The water tower located at the borough yard went back on-line last week, putting an end to low water pressure for some residents. Due to a variety of problems, water pressure in areas of Spotswood has been lower than normal for years, but it was even lower than usual after the tank was taken off-line in April to allow for repairs.

"(Residents) will see water pressure come back to the same level it was before the tank came off-line," said Mayor Barry Zagnit. "The tank will not mean better pressure than before (it went off-line), though. We’ll still have that problem until we get another tank in place."

Officials aimed to have the water tank back on line for the high summer water demand, he said. It was taken off so it could be drained and rehabilitated. While off-line, it was also sandblasted on both the inside and outside, completely repainted, and brought up to current Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA) standards, he said.

In addition, provisions were made for the mounting of cellular antennas, as the borough is leasing out space on the tower to two telecommunications companies. Room for two more antennas was made as well, Zagnit said, and officials will look into renting those spaces. Spotswood receives about $32,000 per year for each antenna space.

After draining and inspecting the tank last spring, the borough determined that a lot of work was needed. Zagnit said experts recommend that water tanks be inspected every six to eight years, but Spotswood’s had not been examined since the early 1980s.

"It was certainly due," he said, adding that the company inspecting it said it was "essentially sound," considering its age.

"The inside had to be sandblasted, as did the outside, but first they had to replace steel that was corroded," he said. "Then the tank was sprayed with epoxy coating for water tanks. It seals the whole inside of the tank."

Also added was a valve that turns off the tank’s inner water flow if the capacity level is reached, he said. In the past, the tank would sometimes overflow, wasting water and money, he said.

The work, done by Petric and Associates, cost the borough about $411,700.

Zagnit said he is relieved to have the tank back on line because it means fewer negative effects in times of fires and/or peak summer demand. If a large fire broke out while the tank was off-line, it would mean homes would see a major drop in water pressure, he said.

"The effect on residents would be much less now should something like that happen," he said.