During the latter half of 2017, Jericho Water District’s Wheatley Road well/tank property underwent critical site improvements as Phase One of the Wheatley Tank replacement project. The existing 10-inch cast iron water main was undersized to meet future needs and was replaced with a new 16-inch, ductile iron water main. Ductile iron adds reliability and flexibility. The pipes have protective linings to inhibit corrosion, so this is an investment in the future. Along with the installation of the new water main, the control and security system wiring were also replaced with modern systems.
Phase Two kicked in on January 12, 2018, when bids for the construction of the new 1.5-million-gallon elevated storage tank were opened. Four bids were received. The District’s engineers for this project, H2M Group, reviewed all bids and recommended that Caldwell Tank, the lowest responsible bidder, be awarded the contract. In late summer of 2018, we broke ground and commenced with the work. The foundations were completed by September 30, with the first load of steel delivered in mid-September. As the year concluded, and work on the tank steadily progressed, the 12 support legs, center riser pipe and half of the bottom of the tank were completely installed. The contractor is keeping to the schedule, which means that by the summer of 2019, the tank should be in service. The existing 90-year-old tank will remain erect for the remainder of 2019, at which time it will be dismantled and carted off site, closing an important chapter in the history of the District.
Slideshow of Wheatley Road Property Critical Site Improvements
