By Melanie Graham/Daily News staff
Residents driving by the Congress Street water tower yesterday may have spotted something different about the 90-year-old structure.Anchor bolt
Crews started work this week as the Milford Water Co. prepares to replace the roof of the tank, thought to be the source of the bacteria that contaminated the water system last summer.
The company brought in a crane and began welding brackets and scaffolding to prepare for repairs.
The repairs, which will take roughly one month, include replacing the tower¡¯s roof as well as work putting in anchor bolts at the base of the structure.
Milford Water Co. manager Dave Condrey said the rim angle of the roof will be addressed first, as the piece at the edge must be replaced before the new aluminum roof is installed on the tank.
Condrey said the rim angle and anchor bolts will likely run the company $119,000. The new roof, he estimated, will have a price tag of around $54,000.
In January, the company said it planned to file a rate hike with the Department of Public Utilities later this year, the first since 2005. The company said the hike had been planned prior to last summer¡¯s boil-water order. The DPU is also reviewing the company¡¯s financial information at the request of selectmen, who have stated they do not want ratepayers to have to pay for the repairs resulting from the crisis.
The rim angle on top of the tank, Condrey said, is a piece of steel at the top of the tower, upon which the roof sits. The company decided to replace the existing rim angle after a structural engineer Carriage bolts inspected the tower last November and found the rim angle to be rusted.
"Rather than taking a chance and replacing sections of the rim angle, we just decided to replace the whole rim angle," Condrey said.
The new roof, Condrey said, will eliminate any potential issues with water leaking into the tank and contaminating the supply.
Maintenance to the new roof will also be less frequent, Condrey said. The aluminum material is expected to have a longer life and few, if any, issues with rust.
The old fiberglass roof was blamed for last summer¡¯s water contamination crisis, a problem that arose due to compromised gaskets that allowed material to drip into the tank.
"(The new roof) will definitely seal off the tank and there won¡¯t be any issues or potential issues where outside water is leaking into the tank," Condrey said.
At the moment, the tower remains empty and off-line, Condrey said. The old roof is expected to be removed sometime Friday. The tower was drained and placed out of service in November.
When the repairs are finished, the company will fill the tank, chlorinate the water, take numerous samples and wait for the Department of Environmental Protection¡¯s approval before putting the tank back online, Condrey said.
In addition to roof repairs, 36 anchor bolts will be installed at the tower¡¯s base. New regulations, Condrey said, require structures such as water towers to be more secure in the event of an earthquake or hurricane.
Each time a tower has work done, it has to be brought up to present code regulations, Condrey said. He noted that the last time the tower had significant work was 1993.
Although the actual roof replacement only takes around two days, Clevis Bolts Condrey said the contractors, who are outside hires, will need the rest of this month and part of May to complete the rim angle and the bolts at the base of the tower.
The company hopes contractors will complete the work prior to Memorial Day weekend.
