Wehrle Tank Maintenance

The Erie County Water Authority commissioned Wendel to aid in the effort to repaint the water tank in Amherst, New York, while making some miscellaneous safety and efficiency improvements. Wendel was not only responsible for design and preparation of contract documents, but also provided construction administration and inspection for the project. Two significant challenges presented themselves: First, preventing the release of blast media and paint into the environment, and second, minimizing disruption to cellular coverage via the antennae from seven different cellular companies that are mounted to the tank. The solution required seamless coordination; scaffolding was built and wrapped in containment material, antennae were relocated outside of the scaffolding for the duration of the painting, then the whole process was reversed once finished. This required constant communication between the painting and scaffolding contractors as well as the cellular companies, which Wendel facilitated from start to finish.