A giant water tank in SLO County is wrapped in white plastic. What’s going on?
A South County water tank will be wrapped in white plastic throughout the summer as workers complete a renovation project on the structure.
The tank is one of three owned by Grover Beach that overlook Highway 101 and the border between the city and Arroyo Grande.
The three welded steel water storage tanks at the city’s 1541 Hillcrest Drive site date to 1963, 1978 and 1987, according to the city’s webpage on the water tank rehabilitation project.
Tank 3 was the last to be built and is the most recent of the three to receive service, nearly 40 years after its construction.
The Grover Beach City Council has budgeted for this project since 2018 and voted to authorize a contract with MKN Engineers for a $103,153 replacement project in November 2023.
The repair project will include removing and replacing interior and exterior tank coating, valve and piping upgrades, cathodic protection removal and replacement, and operation and other safety improvements, according to the city’s website.
The city drained the tank to complete the work, sending most of the water back into the system, with some runoff trickling down North Oak Park Boulevard from Newport Avenue to Mentone Avenue.
Work on Tank 3 started the week of June 3 and will be completed within around 60 working days, or early September, according to the city’s website.
Residents with further questions about the tank rehabilitation project can reach the Grover Beach Department of Public Works at 805-473-4530.
This story was originally published July 23, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
