Pennsylvania American Water announced its 2019 plans to rehabilitate 15 of its water storage tanks. Pennsylvania American Water's tank rehabilitation program of inspecting, sandblasting and repainting tanks will extend their service life and protect water quality. Total cost of the company's water storage improvements is approximately $8 million.

"Storage tanks are essential to our community water systems by helping ensure reliable water service to meet customer demand and provide fire protection," said Jeffrey McIntyre, Pennsylvania American Water president. "The rehab projects are prudent, proactive investments to extend the tanks' lifespans, and are more cost-efficient than replacing the structures."

This year, Pennsylvania American Water will rehabilitate and repaint existing tanks in the following municipalities:

• Allison Township, Fayette County — 127,000-gal. ground storage tank
• Archbald Borough, Lackawanna County — 500,000-gal. ground storage tank
• Baldwin Borough, Allegheny County — 800,000-gal. clarifier
• City of Scranton, Lackawanna County — 470,000-gal. ground storage tank
• Claysville Borough, Washington County — 250,000-gal. ground storage tank
• Coolbaugh Township, Monroe County — 110,000-gal. ground storage tank
• Evansburg, Montgomery County — 420,000-gal. ground storage tank
• Jefferson Hills Borough, Allegheny County — 300,000-gal. elevated storage tank
• Kingston Township, Luzerne County — 924,000-gal. ground storage
• Lemoyne Borough, Cumberland County — 400,000-gal. ground storage tank
• Norristown Borough, Montgomery County — 250,000-gal. elevated storage tank
• North Sewickley Township, Beaver County — 500,000-gal. ground storage tank
• Union Township, Washington County — 500,000-gal. ground storage tank
• West Caln Township, Chester County — 200,000-gal. elevated storage tank
• Young Township, Jefferson County — 300,000-gal. elevated storage tank

To rehabilitate the tanks, crews will strip the original paint and apply a new coating, which serves as a protective barrier that prevents the steel from rusting and compromising water quality. During construction, the company does not expect customers to experience service interruptions.

The projects include mitigation procedures to ensure that paint fumes and dust levels are in compliance with air pollution control requirements mandated by local health departments and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

These rehabilitation projects are in addition to the installation of a new 1.1 million-gal. water storage tank along Bellbridge Road in Lincoln Borough, which started during the summer of 2018. The approximately $4 million tank project will be completed by early summer of this year.

McIntyre said, "This year's tank upgrades follow our company's 2018 investment of nearly $6.6 million to rehabilitate 10 storage tanks."

Pennsylvania American Water owns and maintains more than 250 water storage facilities across the state.

For more information, visit amwater.com.

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