Water System Work Continues with Tank Farm Dive Inspections
There is a lot that goes into maintaining a drinking water system — including routinely sending divers inside the tanks. Specialized potable-water divers will be at Rawlins’ Tank Farm this week to inspect and clean two of the City’s four drinking water storage tanks. The work will give water staff an up-close look at conditions inside the tanks, remove accumulated sediment and help identify needed maintenance.
Rather than draining the tanks and taking them out of service, certified divers can perform the work while the tanks remain filled. This approach helps conserve water and minimizes disruption to the water system. The divers specialize in potable-water systems, and both the divers and their equipment are cleaned and sanitized before entering the tanks. Divers wear fully sealed dry suits designed for drinking-water work. Work during the inspections include removing sediment, inspecting the tanks and their components, and creating a full report of the tanks’ conditions.
Residents can help with the work, too. The tanks need adequate water levels for the divers to safely enter, exit and inspect the full interior. City water staff have been working to keep tank levels high ahead of the inspections. With fall arriving, residents and businesses who can reduce or postpone outdoor watering this week can help maintain those levels while the work is underway. There are no irrigation restrictions in place, and normal household and business water use can continue. A little less lawn and landscape watering through Friday is simply appreciated.
These tanks are already on the City’s high-priority list for replacement. In the meantime, this week’s work helps Water staff see exactly how they’re holding up, make smaller repairs where possible and gather current information that will help guide the larger replacement project.
Since 2021, the City Water Fund has completed four major water projects totaling approximately $4.2 million, with nearly half funded through grants. These projects include replacing 10,000 feet of wood stave pipe, bringing the pretreatment plant online, completing the Water Master Plan, and installing a new monitoring and control computer system. Current water infrastructure work includes protecting the water line from the springs to the treatment plant from corrosion, replacing water lines in the Edinburgh Project, and adding a backup pump for the high-pressure tanks.
Learn more about Rawlins’ water system and current improvement projects at www.rawlinswy.gov/water. Interested in receiving news from the City? Sign up for news via email or text at www.rawlinswy.gov/notifyme under “City of Rawlins News.” For more information, please contact Mira Miller, City of Rawlins Community Relations/PIO at 307-328-4500 ext. 1022.
