Water Tower 3 Reconditioning

Background

As part of Oakdale’s effort to maintain reliable and sustainable infrastructure, routine maintenance must be completed on the City’s water towers. Last painted in 2003, water tower three, located at 2347 Hallmark Avenue N, is scheduled for reconditioning in the spring of 2025. This project was approved by the City Council under Resolution 2024-110 on December 10, 2024. 

Current Project Status

July 31: The reconditioning of water tower three is complete. The tower was brought back online on Friday, July 25. While ground restoration activities are still underway, project officials have reached out to all communication service providers with leased space on the tower to inform them that they may commence reinstalling their equipment. Although the initial carrier is anticipated to begin within the next two to three weeks, the entire process is projected to require one to two months. It is important to note that weather conditions and other uncontrollable factors may impede progress. However, any delays are at the discretion of the carrier and not the City of Oakdale. For the most up-to-date information on when your service provider will reinstall their equipment on the tower, please contact them directly. All other questions related to the project may be directed to the Oakdale Public Works Department.

Past Project Status

July 2: With the tower's exterior painted, crews will now focus on the interior, applying final coats to the interior dry area. They will also install a new circulation pump in the water tank to help ensure the water inside the tank keeps moving at all times and apply the last coats of paint inside it. After application, this special paint needs seven days to cure, followed by thickness testing. Once it passes, the tank will be disinfected and returned to service. Although crews aim to restore the tank to service soon, considerable work remains at the site as contractors continue removing the last part of the containment system and reinstall antennas on the outside of the structure. 

A traditional water tower like this one has three areas: 

1. The exterior that everyone can see when you pass by.
2. The interior dry area is enclosed but does not contain water. It provides access to the top of the tower via ladder and is typically used for storing equipment and electronic controls related to the antennas and water system communications. This space is neither insulated nor temperature-controlled.
3. The interior wet area refers to the inside of the water tank located at the tower's top. After disinfection, it is sealed from external elements and filled with water, usually about half to three-quarters full, depending on daily needs. If the tank overfills, an overflow pipe automatically directs excess water into a nearby storm sewer, preventing any issues for the tank or the surrounding area. 

June 16: Contractors have concluded all sandblasting on the tower. Approximately 55% of the tower's interior and 75% of the exterior has been painted. Adverse weather conditions have posed challenges resulting in delays in the completion of the painting phase of the project.  It important to anticipate various colors being applied to the exterior over the next few weeks. These colors do not necessarily represent the final paint selections, but consist of different types of paint contributing to the five layers of paint being applied to the tower. As crews proceed with application of the finish coat, they will begin at the top and work their way downward, incorporating the new design along the way.

While it remains challenging to predict the future impact of weather on progress, the contractor is committed to making every effort to complete the project within the designated timeline and budget, including maintaining a work schedule of six days per week whenever feasible.

May 28: By early May, contractors finalized all structural updates and modifications. Crews are now fully focused on sandblasting and painting. As of May 22, around 60% of the interior sandblasting and painting is finished, along with about 40% of the exterior work. While community members might notice various color combinations on the exterior during this phase, it's essential to understand that these represent the five distinct layers of paint protection applied to the structure, which will ensure a minimum of 20 years of protection against various weather conditions.  The tower will ultimately feature a base color of tank white complemented by shades of green that form the City of Oakdale logo around the top of the tank at project completion.  

Considering all aspects of the project, the structural upgrades and rehabilitation are expected to be finished by June 30, while the reinstallation of antenna equipment and ground restoration will extend into July. 

April 25: Having completed over 75 percent of the structural improvements, contractors are now beginning the sandblasting and painting phase of the project. While crews work inside the tank, efforts will shift to the exterior in the upcoming weeks, obscuring the tank from sight.  

March 6: Residents and frequent passersby of the City water tower on Hallmark Avenue may have observed heightened activity at the site. We’re pleased to confirm this is part of a long-awaited reconditioning project set to commence this spring. Currently, activity is minimal, but by late March, the site will become much more active and, at times, entirely obscured from view as licensed contractors perform upgrades to the interior and repaint the exterior, giving it a revitalized appearance. The entire project is anticipated to continue into July, leading to increased construction traffic and noticeable noise for those living nearby as crews work to complete the project as quickly as possible. Though the project may seem daunting, it is a crucial step in our ongoing commitment to maintaining reliable infrastructure for the future.