3.5MG Triple Use Water Tank

The 3.5 million gallon, multi-column cone roof tank per AWWA Section 14 was designed for triple-purpose use: fire water storage, process water storage and cooling water circulation for a new, state-of-the-art, multi-billion-dollar materials manufacturing facility for a global leader in silicon carbide technology. The tank contractor provided tank design and fabrication as well as field erection.

The tank contractor developed a customized erection sequence to minimize distortion of the roof plates as they were installed. The tank roof included fully welded roof seams (interior and exterior) and seal welded rafters. These features will serve to enhance the performance of the interior coating system.

The tank erection was challenging because the site was in the middle of an extremely active construction zone, with over 2,000 different workers onsite. The tank contractor worked side by side with civil and mechanical contractors performing work in the tank area, including rock blasting and a great deal of heavy equipment activity. Additionally, the tank site was 25’ from an 80’ drop off, presenting a major logistical and safety challenge.

The site also presented some security challenges with very limited site access and security checks for every worker and for all deliveries. Additionally, all work on the jobsite was under constant observation by OSHA and third-party safety representatives.

As the tank erection was underway, there were significant and frequent design changes affecting the location of planned nozzles and the addition of more nozzles. The tank contractor managed and adjusted to these changes and was able to meet the customer’s final nozzle plan when the tank was ready to be put into service.