Above: Men from Associated Scaffolding build scaffolding on the sides of the water tower on Gladden Street in Melrose Heights for painters from the Utility Service Company to complete the job. Right: a full view of the tank. The water tower on Gladden Street in Melrose Heights was built between 1925 and 1927. It has been the subject of many a dare from children who grew up in the neighborhood over the years. Some even claim they climbed it. Today, however, it is surrounded by a barb wire fence.

This particular water tower serves the eastern to the southeastern portion of the city water system. Inspectors from the City of Columbia routinely check it, and before Christmas the city began removing trees from the property after it was determined the tank required structural repairs.

On January 9, 2009, Utilities Services, the company contracted by the city, began the renovation. The repairs have been done, and last week scaffolding began.The purpose of the scaffolding is to provide a contained area surrounding the tank for the sandblasting and painting of the exterior of the tank.

A water tower or elevated water tower is a large elevated water storage container constructed for the purpose of holding a water supply at a height sufficient to pressurize a water distribution system. Pressurization occurs through the elevation of water; for every 2.31 feet (0.704 m) of elevation, it produces 1 pound per square inch (6.895 kPa) of pressure. 100 ft (30.48 m) of elevation (at 2.31=1psi) produces 43.3 psi (298.543 kPa), which is enough pressure to operate and provide for most domestic water pressure and distribution system requirements. —Wikipedia Utilities Services was contracted to do the work. They subcontracted with Associated Scaffolding to do the scaffolding before painting. The city's standard colors are red, white, and blue. When completed, the tank will resemble the Wales Garden tank located on Pickens Street. The work is expected to be completed by May, 2009 and will cost approximately $1 million.

Editor's note: Thanks

to D ana R. Higgins, P.E.,

assistant city engineer for

construction for informa tion

r egarding the water

tower.