4-million-gallon Vera Crest Drive reservoir recoating project

This 50-year-old reservoir is crucial for storing drinking water and firefighting. The recoating process involves draining, removing old coatings, and repainting the interior, taking several months. This project was made possible through securing a low-rate (1.72 percent) public works loan from the Washington State Public Works Board.  By obtaining these funds, Vera Water and Power can continue its mission of delivering high-quality water services while maintaining a dedication to sustainability at the lowest possible cost.

We will start repainting the exterior in the spring when the weather is most conducive to painting. This proactive maintenance ensures the long-term reliability and quality of our community’s water supply for generations to come.

We will start drawing down the reservoir in mid-October to have it completely empty by Nov. 4, 2024. Once the interior coating is completed, we will start the exterior painting. The timeline for exterior painting is scheduled for this spring; however, it will be subject to the weather conditions. As anyone who has painted a home knows, it has to be warm enough for the paint to properly adhere to the structure.

We do this work in the fall and spring because it is the time of year when water demand is the lowest. While this reservoir is out of service, Vera Water and Power has two other  functioning reservoirs in the district. Additionally, we will continue to pump water from the aquifer to ensure adequate water supply and pressure during this time.

Since most of our customers shut off their sprinklers between October and May, we are asking that everyone restrain from turning the sprinklers back until April 2025 when the interior coating is completed and the reservoir refilled. We will keep you informed along the way in case the timeline needs to be extended or if the project is completed earlier than expected. This will go a long way in helping manage water demand, especially in the spring. Please winterize your sprinkler system now to help draw down the water in the reservoir.

The water left in the reservoir will be gradually released into our drainage field near 16^th Avenue. This process is carefully managed to prevent flooding or overwhelming the downstream water infrastructure.

We do expect this project to increase local traffic as workers and equipment are being transported to and from the job site, located near S. Vera Crest Drive. During part of this project, work will be happening 24/7, and we do expect the machinery to create some noise. It will be loudest at the reservoir site and the noise will dissipate the further away you are located. We are hoping to mitigate the impact of the noise by locating the equipment in areas where it can be minimized.

Once empty, the reservoir needs time to dry completely before repainting can begin. Industrial fans or dehumidifiers could be used to speed up this process. You may hear this equipment.

Be assured. You can count on a continuous water supply during this period. We will be using our backup reservoirs and increasing water pumping production from the aquifer.

The interior surfaces are thoroughly cleaned and prepared for the new coating. This may involve pressure washing, sandblasting, or other cleaning methods. A similar process is used on the exterior of the reservoir. We will be using a state-of-the-art technology robot to collect coating particles with HEPA filtration. We do all of this to assure our water supply is clean, healthy and safe.

As the reservoir empties, safety protocols are implemented for workers who will enter the structure. This includes air quality monitoring and fall protection measures. The property will be monitored with cameras.

This is a large water tank that may be considered visually intrusive regardless of its color, we are committed to minimizing its impact on the landscape. We are currently evaluating a palette of earthy tones for the tank’s new exterior paint job. By selecting a color that harmonizes with the surrounding natural environment, we aim to reduce the tank’s visual prominence and improve its integration into the local scenery.