Summit St Water Tower Rehabilitation

Project Summary

The Summit Water Tower serves the Village's water system as one of seven elevated water storage tanks. It stores 500,000 gallons of water and was constructed in 1938 by Chicago Bridge & Iron.

An evaluation of this tank was completed in April 2025. The evaluation looked at the condition of the exterior surface, as well as the interior dry and wet surfaces. Based on recommendations in that report, the Village is moving forward with the rehabilitation of the Summit Water Tower.

The purpose of this rehabilitation contract is to correct the current deficiencies and provide a long-lasting coating system.

Improvements Include:

1. Interior and exterior cleaning and re-coating for corrosion protection.
2. Safety improvements including: installation of a pipe-style roof handrail conforming to OSHA regulations to enclose existing wet access manway.
3. Operational improvements including: installation of a water tower tank mixing system to improve water quality and reduce the likelihood of ice formation in cold weather.

Once complete, the Summit Water Tower will be brought back online, continuing to store and provide clean drinking water to the community.

LATEST UPDATE

July 24, 2026

1. The following items have been completed: Interior and exterior painting, installation of tank mixing system and cathodic protection system, and scada controls updates.
2. The tank is being filled with water, and chlorinating and sampling will take place the week of 7/27.
3. Once water samples have passed the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) sampling, the tank will be placed back into service to the public.

PAST UPDATES

July 3, 2026

1. The outer intermediate and finish coat of paint is complete, the Green Downers Grove stencil has been applied, and the dust containment system has been removed.
2. The interior wet finish coat is being applied.

June 19, 2026

1. Exterior cellular antennas were removed and placed on a monopole in the Fire Station #2 parking lot at 5240 Main St.
2. The contractor has completed: set up of all rehabilitation equipment on site, all welding and fabrication repairs, installation of full tower exterior dust containment shroud, surface preparation of interior and exterior of the tank by means of media blasting and prime coat.
3. Stripe coat is being applied to hard-to-reach areas such as turnbuckles, anchor bolts, manway hatches and sway bars. Painters apply this extra layer of high-build epoxy before or after the full coat to reinforce areas that are highly susceptible to corrosion and rust.