The City of Irving is preparing to rehabilitate four of its 19 ground and elevated storage tanks that provide drinking water to residents and businesses.
The Walnut Hill Elevated Storage Tank, on Gateway Drive near Walnut Hill Road, holds 2.5 million gallons of water and serves west Irving. Built in 1979 and last rehabbed in 2006, the tank requires additional work to help extend its lifespan. On June 29, the Irving City Council unanimously approved a $2.9 million contract for the Walnut Hill Elevated Storage Tank Rehabilitation Project.
The project begins in fall 2023 and includes blasting and recoating both the interior and exterior of the tank. Additionally, the project includes some structural repairs, replacement of a roof vent, overflow weir box and interior ladders, as well as electrical and communication improvements.
The City Council also approved a $723,516 design contract for the rehabilitation of Ground Storage Tank Nos. 2 and 3 at the MacArthur Pump Station and Ground Storage Tank No. 4 at the Hackberry Pump Station. This project also includes design of a new 20-inch actuated valve near Rochelle Boulevard and Northgate Drive, which will improve water service to the Urban Center from the Northgate Pump Station.
Future MacArthur and Hackberry tank rehab projects include improvements to three, 5-million-gallon storage tanks. Both MacArthur tanks were rehabbed in 2006, while Hackberry Tank No. 4 was updated in 2011. The projects include structural repairs, blasting and recoating of the interior and exterior of both MacArthur tanks, and repairing a pipe support in Hackberry Tank No. 4. The total estimated construction cost of these projects is $8.8 million, but rehabilitation of the tanks will likely be completed in multiple construction projects over the next few years to spread out the cost and avoid taking multiple tanks out of service at the same time.
The Water Utilities Department continuously monitors and maintains the city’s water tanks. Routine maintenance, along with occasional larger rehabilitation projects, help prolong the lifespan of water storage facilities, thereby reducing long-term costs and avoiding unplanned disruptions to the water system.
Visit CityofIrving.org/IrvingInvests for more information on the city’s ongoing infrastructure initiatives.