Wallaceburg water tower project progressing

The Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has released an update on the Joseph Shaw Wallaceburg Elevated Storage Tank re-painting and refurbishing project.

PUC Photo

“The external scaffolding has almost been completed,” The roof top antennas have been relocated to the temporary position on the scaffolding,” PUC officials posted on social media.

“The existing inner and outer painter’s rails have been removed from within the storage cell, and the new inner painter’s rail has been installed. Blasting (to remove the interior lining system to bare steel) within the storage cell has commenced to remove the existing interior lining system.”

The PUC started the construction phase of the $3.7-million rehabilitation and maintenance improvement project of the tank, located at 6500 Otter Line.

PUC Photo

PUC officials say a number of improvements and miscellaneous upgrades to the tank are required to increase the reliability of the tank and its functionality for the next 20 plus years.

The tank was originally constructed in 1999.

The PUC owns and operates 10 elevated storage tanks in various systems in Chatham-Kent.

The tanks are regularly inspected and each tank is evaluated and set on a rehabilitation priority, PUC officials say.

BGL Contracting was selected and awarded the rehabilitation project in January 2022.

The tower was placed out of service in March 2022 and expected to be returned back into service in September 2022.

Tim Sunderland, the general manager of the PUC, said Wallaceburg is the fifth water tower to be rehabilitated since the first tower, which was the Chatham tower was rehabilitated in 2014.

Towers completed since 2014 have been Blenheim, Dresden and Pain Court.

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