You can’t tell from looking outside, but city crews are draining their brand-new 3,000,000 gallon water tank.
The new tank had been filled for two weeks for testing. City officials always planned on having to drain and refill it before the tank went operational.
“It was planned that could be one of the options,” said Gabriel Ramirez, the city’s Assistant Director for Water Quality and Treatment.
While full, workers found a pinhole sized leak in a weld joint, and according to Ramirez the tank has to be empty for repairs.
“You can’t have water in the pipe, so it has to be drained,” said Ramirez. “Then it’s just a matter of some welding work to take place to seal the pinhole leak.”
3,000,000 will be drained into the stormwater system.
Ramirez says it’s unfortunate the water has to be drained with the city under drought restrictions, but there’s nothing he can do.
“With the water being in the tank for two weeks, the quality is not as good as what we would want to put into our distribution system,” said Ramirez.
The tank was supposed to be running in January, Ramirez now expects it operational within a month. He says delays are worth it.
“This is something that’s going to last us 70-80 years possibly, and we want to make sure everything is done right before it’s put in the system and put on-line,” said Ramirez.
