Life Cycle Reset for Tank Coatings: Cost-Effective Strategies for Aging Facilities

Abstract During the COVID pandemic, many construction projects were delayed, and there were material and labor shortages. As a result, water utility owners were looking for maintenance strategies that could resolve problems short of undertaking more costly and lengthy rehabilitation and/or replacement projects. The San Antonio Water System (SAWS)(1) took this approach when coating failures developed on the exterior of their 1.5-MG Foster Elevated Storage Tank (EST). A coating evaluation and testing determined that the existing exterior coating was a candidate for overcoating to economically extend the life of the coating system at less than half the cost of a full coating replacement. During construction of the project, a failure pattern was revealed that helped explain why the coating had failed. SAWS’ experience illustrates how utilities can take cost-effective measures to prolong the life of their facilities and responsibly manage both their physical assets and their budgets.