Relocate Water Tower & Correct Water Storage Project

The project included the engineering, fabrication, procurement & construction of (1) 60′-0 Diameter x 138′-0 High seal-welded bent-plate cone roof standpipe, associated site work, and installation of additional water main. The structure is a custom 2,876,000 gallon standpipe designed to latest edition of AWWA D100 and with a 136′-0 DLL (Design Liquid Level). It included nonstandard “Pilaster” sections and tank top “Halo Ring” architectural features.

The tank is built on a drilled pier type deep foundation of which design and installation was included in the scope of work. The tank is a non-standard flat bottom, cylindrical shell with a large (10′-6 diameter) center riser-supported bent-plate cone roof tank design. This bent-plate roof design not only simplifies the process of preparing the weld surfaces but also enhances the efficiency of field painting on the interior underside of the roof. One of the significant advantages of this bent-plate roof design is the careful consideration of edge formation – effectively minimizing the presence of sharp edges in the vapor space situated above the water product. In traditional internally-framed column-supported cone roof designs, these sharp edges often serve as starting points for corrosion, leading to potential structural issues over time. However, the unique bent-plate design eliminates these vulnerabilities, thereby significantly improving the durability of the coating system applied to the roof. This longevity ultimately benefits the entire tank structure, ensuring that it remains resilient and reliable for years to come.

Specialized jigs and weld procedures were employed in the fabrication of the unique architectural assemblies to mitigate weld distortion on the Pilaster and Halo Ring Sections. For the construction schedule, the tank crew was accelerated to achieve the early “Provisional Acceptance” targets before the beginning of the University of Iowa’s football season. Tank construction was executed during the 2024 winter weather period and the tank coating was restricted due to the surrounding parking lot. Thusly full containment of the field blasting and painting was required.

This all-steel, all-welded tank design demonstrates the flexibility of steel fabrication and construction and the prominent University of Iowa Hawkeye logo highlights the skyline on Game Day visible from the football stadium.