Unexpectedly in need of immediate repairs, Palatine plans to move some money around to address some of the problems reported at the Village’s South Water Supply Tank by the end of this year. 

The Village Council approved the 2012 plan to fund, repair, design-build upgrades, and maintain the South Supply Tank at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Even though no tank maintenance was planned in the 2012 budget, inspections this spring showed some of the issues of at the South Water Supply Tank could not wait. A receiving point for lake water, the 2.5 million gallon tank was constructed in 1982 and was last repaired in 1995. Now, 17 years later Palatine's South Supply Water Tank in is need of immediate attention. 

According Palatine’s Department of Public Works, the roof structure and certain steel components are visibly corroded to a point that repair or replacement of the tank at 135 W. Michigan Ave. is necessary. With a replacement cost of $2.5 million, the Village decided the best option is to repair and maintain the 2.5 million gallon tank. 

To cover the cost of the 2012 repairs and the design-build upgrades, the Village approved an addendum, or addition of funds that is capped at, or limited to $115,000.

While that money will be used to pay for repairs and upgrades, the South Water Supply Tank also needs to be cleaned of dust residue or any foreign debris, tested for any cross-connections or hazardous waste, disinfected, and repainted. In order to pay for this year’s unplanned tank maintenance, the Village suspended the scheduled maintenance of a standby well and water main extensions. Because the steel at the South Supply Tank is expected to deteriorate more rapidly, funding from those projects will be used to maintain the tank in 2012.

In addition to the approval of maintenance and repairs, the Village authorized a long-term contract to maintain the 2.5 million gallon tank for the next 14 years. The outside water maintenance contractor will inspect the tank annually, periodically clean the tank, make repairs as needed and repaint the tank every 10-12 years.

According to the Department of Public Works, this long-term maintenance plan will maximize tank life, minimize steel deterioration and reduce repair costs. 

While the Village cannot predict the total cost of the 14-year contract, the long-term maintenance plan is expected to save the Village roughly $200,000 over the next 20 years, with much of the savings being seen in the at the end of the 20 year period.