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The Compton Hill Water Tower was originally constructed a century ago
to provide pressure relief in the distribution system. This tower has
not been in use 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
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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.
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
Early in 1993, the Water Division had consultants perform 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.
The following improvements to the Compton Hill Reservoir were
performed to meet the technical and social goals for this project:
-
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.
- Raise the bottom elevation of the new tanks to the current
minimum operating level (elevation 170 ft) to improve storage turnover.
- Explore for and treat suspected sinkholes beneath the existing
reservoir to improve structural and seismic stability.
- Contruct a premanent access entrance and gate in the south wall.
- Renovate the existing perimeter wall with new precast concrete
panels similar in architectural style to the original construction.
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 the
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.
- 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 aesthetics, restore historic character, and
improve security.
- 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.
- Provide new instrumentation and electrical power to increase the
operational reliability and improve remote monitoring and control capabilities.
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