A quarter of TUD tanks in bad shape

They’re rusty, they’re leaky, they’re older than disco — and there’s a good chance you’re drinking from them.

The Tuolumne Utilities District recently completed an inspection of 81 water storage tanks that supply drinking water to most area homes. The survey found that 24 tanks were in “poor” condition and would eventually need to be replaced, according to a report to the Board of Directors given by district Chief Engineer Tom Scesa. He outlined some of the TUD tank system deficiencies during the regular board meeting on Tuesday.
   

The extensive tank inspection was part of the district’s treated water system optimization plan, which looks at areas in need of capital projects and infrastructure investments. Many of the tanks were outdated, had cracks and rust or structural problems. Some have already been drained and taken out of service because the risk of failure was too high.

Scesa singled out several tanks that are particularly in need of repairs or replacement.

Some of the water provided to the Crystal Falls area comes from a pair of 40,000-gallon tanks made of redwood planks held together with iron straps. A tank that supplies water to the Phoenix Lake area has plumes of moss growing from holes in its steel exterior, and it was built using a single row of bolts — a system Scesa said was “cheaper than cheap.”

The Jamestown Reservoir, the largest below-ground water storage structure in the TUD system, is in need of repairs and the replacement of a large tarp that covers the water surface. The cost of a new tarp was estimated at $65,000.

Another tank was taken out of service after it was struck by a tree and damaged during a wind storm on Dec. 1.

Most of the defunct tanks were inherited by TUD from other, now non-existent, water districts prior to 1992.

TUD General Manager Pete Kampa said the district has spent $39 million over the past five years to build new tanks. Many of the new tanks are built by hand by TUD employees and can hold half a million gallons of water or more.

Director Bob Behee said that the primary reason for a significant rate increase proposed late last year was to raise enough revenue to make improvements to infrastructure.

“The longer you put things off, it’s going to come back to bite you,” he said.

Director Ralph Retherford, a vocal opponent of the recent rate plan, said the district should cut spending for studies and use those funds to repair the tanks.

“I’d like to see a lot of that money redirected into repairing this infrastructure,” he said.

Kampa said TUD directors in the past have been hesitant to bring up rate increases because of the public controversy they typically generate. Nonetheless, he said more money is needed to improve water systems that are deteriorating.

“Over the years you can see that these things have fallen off to the side,” Kampa said.

Most of the tank repairs won’t be eligible for grant funding from the state, Scesa said, because TUD has the option of raising rates to make necessary repairs to infrastructure.

Contact Ryan Campbell at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 588-4526.