DETAILS OF RESTORATION

 

Tower Restoration

Pre-restoration condition

The Compton Hill Water Tower was originally constructed a century ago to provide pressure relief in the distribution system. This tower has not been inuse since the 1940's. The Tower is approximately 180 feet tall and 20 feet square. It is constructed of a combination of limestone and brick, with an interior cast iron circular staircase and cast iron floor plates at the immediate levels. During the 1980's the steel stairs deteriorated considerably. Water damage from deteriorating stone work had produced a side crack in the masonry on the east side.

The main structure which is solid masonry was found to be in generally good condition. Some parts of the lower limestone was deteriorating and was in need of repairs/replacement. As part of the reservoir improvements project, the water tower was restored to preserve its historical value.

Steps of Restoration

Restoration efforts for the tower included:

  • The removal of asbestos from the interior piping

  • Repair/replacement of the damaged stone masonry
  • Sandblasting and painting of the structural steel
  • Tuckpointing
  • Installing support mechanisms and decking

Reservoir Restoration

Pre-restoration condition

Early in 1993, the Water Division had consultants preform a needs assessment for the Compton Hill Reservoir. The needs assessment provided the following suggested improvement for the repair and renovation of the existing reservoir replacement:

  • Optimize storage volume and improve water circulation within the reservoir to improve water quality.

  • Improve the seismic stability of the reservoir and the adjacent surge tower.
  • Restore The deteriorated architectural and landscape aestetics of the reservoir.
  • Installation of remote monitoring and control features for the reservoir.
  • Resolution of problems with maintaining the reservoir under the provisions of the Missouri Dam Safety Program.
  • Provisions for additional access for maintainence activities.

Steps of Restoration

The following improvements to the Compton Hill Reservoir were performed to meet the technical and social goals for this project:

  1. Construct two new 14 million gallon precast/prestressed concrete water storage reservoirs, one in the north cell and one in the south cell. The existing roof slab and columns were removed.

  2. Raise the bottom elevation of the new tanks to the current minimum operating level (elevation 170 ft) to improve storage turnover.
  3. Explore for and treat suspected sinkholes beneath the existing reservoir to improve structural and seismic stability.
  4. Contruct a premanent access entrance and gate in the south wall.
  5. Renovate the extisting perimeter wall with new precast concrete panels similar in architectural style to the original contruction. Raise the top new perimeter wall three feet. Remove the chainlink fance and the rails on top of the existing reservoir. Renovate the west side of the reservoir in the area of the gate house. Remove teh stairs leading from the top of the berm to the top of the reservoir, located at each of the four corners, which are no longer needed and would otherwise pose a security and safety hazard.
  6. Replace existing lighting fixtures and install new fixtures, in the area of the West Gatehouse and stairs and around the perimeter of the reservoir, to improve aestetics, restore historic character, and improve security.
  7. Preserve the existing healthy plant materials. Provide additional plant materials. Plant new vegetation on the berm that will prevent future erosion and lessen the need for mowing on the steep slopes of the berm.
  8. Provide new instrumentation and electrical power to increase the operational reliability and improve remote monitoring and control capabilities.