Mar 13, 2015 1 min read

Pennsylvania American Water plans to inspect and rehabilitate 15 water storage tanks across Pennsylvania, including three in Washington County.

This year, the company will inspect, sandblast and repaint tanks in Carroll, North Franklin and South Strabane townships. The company said it does not expect customers to experience service interruptions during the work.

The upgrades are being made in order to extend the service life of the water tanks, protect water quality and continue to provide fire protection for the communities in which they are located. The original paint will be stripped and replaced with a fresh coating, which protects the steel tanks from rust that can compromise water quality.

“Storage tanks are essential to our community water systems by helping ensure reliable water service to meet customer demand and provide fire protection,” company President Kathy L. Pape said in a news release.

“The rehab projects are a prudent, proactive investment to extend the tanks’ lifespan, which is more cost-efficient than replacing the structures.”

The tank project costs $6.7 million in total. In 2014, the company invested about $10 million to rehabilitate 13 water tanks and construct four new storage structures. The company operates more than 290 storage tanks in Pennsylvania.