Council approves water tower cleaning

WILLIAMSBURG — Though it isn’t required by law, cleaning out a water tower every few years is a good idea, said Williamsburg City Manager Aaron Sandersfeld last month.

The Williamsburg City Council approved a resolution Jan. 27 to have Viking Industrial Painting inspect and clean the interior of a 250 kg water tower for $2,200.

“It’s just a good idea … to get everything cleaned out and disinfected,” said Sandersfeld. “It’s not that costly.”

The last time the south water tower was cleaned was in 2020, said Sandersfeld. It’s a good idea to clean it out every five years, he said.

The city will let the water drop to a low level and then drain the tower. Most of the city’s water pressure comes from the south tower, said Sandersfeld, so residents may notice a drop in water pressure.

The tower will be inspected, cleaned and refilled, and the water will be tested.

The process will take a couple of days, said Sandersfeld. The City will keep in touch with the fire department and other agencies that might be affected, he said.

The water tower cleaning will take place this summer, according to the contract with Viking. The interior floor and lower sidewalls will be cleaned with a pressure washer to rinse down sediment for removal.

The sediment will be cleaned out of the tank bell, and the tank will be inspected to assess the condition of the interior and exterior coatings as well as the sanitary, safety, security and structural components of the tank, the contract says.

If repairs are needed, Viking will inform the city of the details of the repairs and the associated costs. The city would have to approve any additional repairs.

The tank will be disinfected per American Water Works Association standards, the Viking contract says.