$485K Water Tank Rehab Begins in Royersford

Royersford, PA -- Pennsylvania American Water began rehabilitation work on the second of its Black Rock water storage tanks in Upper Providence Township near Oaks on Thursday, they announced in a press release.

The approximately $485,000 project calls for repainting the structure to provide a protective barrier and prevent the steel from rusting and compromising water quality

Starting next week, the company will inspect, sandblast and repaint the 1.5 million-gallon tank. Crews will strip the original paint and apply a new coating to extend the lifespan of the ground storage structure located off Black Rock Road. The tank was last painted in 1991, the release states.

“Storage tanks are a critical part of our water infrastructure that ensure adequate, reliable water supplies for our communities, in addition to providing fire protection,” said Pennsylvania American Water Senior Supervisor Edward Baetzel. “Rehabilitation projects like this one extend the tanks’ lifespan, while also providing significant cost savings compared to replacing the structures.”

During construction, Baetzel said the company will maintain normal operations and no water service disruptions are expected for local customers. The company’s Royersford area system, which provides water service to more than 16,000 local customers, has a total of seven water storage tanks. Last year, Pennsylvania American Water rehabbed and repainted an adjacent 1.5 million-gallon storage tank at the same location, according to the press release.

This project is among the 13 storage tanks that the company is rehabbing this year across the Commonwealth, which represents a capital investment of nearly $6.8 million. Pennsylvania American Water said they own and maintain more than 290 storage tanks statewide.