Water Storage Tanks Operation, Maintenance, and Rehabilitation

Upon completion of this course, you will understand:

• Tank types, comparisons, advantages/disadvantages
• Safety for water storage tank operation
• Attaching antennas to tanks
• Mixing in water storage tanks
• Tank inspections
• Tank rehabilitation 
• Warranty and aftercare of tanks
• Various tank types: Bolted Steel, Prestressed Concrete, etc
• Coatings for concrete and steel tanks
• Corrosion Control and Cathodic Protection
• Improved tank asset management

• Utility managers
• Engineers
• Public works directors and superintendents
• Distribution system operators
• Others with water storage tank responsibilities

• Water Storage Tank Types
  • Tank type overview
  • Advantages and disadvantages
  • Design efficiency
  • Operations and maintenance considerations
  • Aesthetics
• Safety for Water Storage Tank Operation
  • Important safety issues
  • Overview of safety equipment and procedures for tank climbing and rigging
  • Tank details for safety and rescue retrieval
• Attaching antennas to Tanks
  • Typical antenna attachment details
  • Protecting structural integrity of tank
  • Avoiding paint damage and corrosion
  • Operational and aesthetic concerns
  • Accommodating future antenna installations
• Mixing in Water Storage Tanks
  • Storage tank water quality problems and causes
  • Water storage tank mixing – mixing basics – methods of mixing – potential mixing problems
  • Modeling mixing and water aging in storage tanks
  • Retrofits to improve mixing and tank water quality
• Initial Inspections for Tanks
  • Essential elements of tank inspections
  • Inspector qualifications
  • Inspection types – drained tank – underwater inspections
  • Photo and video documentation
  • Inspection report
• Tank Rehabilitation
• Warranty and Aftercare for Tanks
• Bolted Steel and Prestressed Concrete Tanks
• Coatings for Steel and Concrete Tanks
  • Coating types
  • Expected coating life
  • Coating selection
  • Surface preparation
  • Quality control
• Essentials of Asset Management
• Corrosion Control and Cathodic Protection
  • Cathodic protection methods/systems
  • Operation of cathodic protection systems
• Case Studies

Joseph Hoban

Mr. Joseph Hoban is the Vice President of Dixon Engineering, Inc. and brings over 25 years of expertise in potable drinking water storage. He holds a degree in Geological Engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where he graduated in 1998. Although his degree focused on geology, Joe's career took a different path, leading him into the field of inspecting potable drinking water tanks. His experience spans a wide range of tank types, including ground tanks, elevated tanks, steel tanks, and concrete tanks.

Joe is a Licensed Professional Engineer in 10 states, a Certified Coatings Inspector through the Association of Material Protection and Performance (AMPP), and a Certified Weld Inspector through the American Welding Society. His diverse certifications and years of experience make him a leader in the water storage industry.

Ben Huffman

Ben is the superintendent for the South Milwaukee Water and Wastewater treatment facilities. He has been with the City of South Milwaukee for the past 19 years.

Seth McClure

Seth McClure, PE has been actively involved with Asset Management for eight years, first as the Asset Manager at the Madison Water Utility, and most recently as supervisor for asset management programs at the Madison Metro Sewerage District. More recently, Seth has shifted his focus from engineering and asset management to issues surrounding the governance of utilities, strategic planning, and leadership development. Seth is currently the Strategic Planning and Policy Advisor for MMSD. A former high school teacher, freelance writer, and carpenter, Seth is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Kyle Miller

Kyle Miller has a rich background in education and sales, coupled with a lifelong connection to agriculture.  After earning his bachelor’s degree in education, Kyle spent the next several years in the classroom teaching elementary and middle school.  He then transitioned to Education Sales for then next seven years.  Now Kyle is applying his skills and experience in the water storage industry, a legacy that his grandfather began nearly 60 years ago installing the Harvestore tanks throughout Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. 

Steven Roetter, PE

Steve Roetter has 40 years’ experience in the coatings and corrosion industry.  He spent 35 years as a consultant doing condition assessments, specifications and coating inspection on various steel and concrete structures.  Steve also conducted numerous coating failure investigations and served as an expert witness.

For the past 5 years, Steve has been water/wastewater Market Segment Manager for Sherwin-Williams where he oversees the coating of steel and concrete wastewater structures.  Steve has a BS Civil Engineering, is a registered professional engineer in Indiana and New York, an AMPP Protective Coating Specialist and Past President of SSPC – The Society for Protective Coatings (now AMPP).

Brandon Shea

Miles Steele

Miles Steele has worked in the corrosion control industry for over 43 years, starting his career with Harco in 1984 as a Waterworks Technician. His experience has involved all aspects pertaining to the cathodic protection (CP) of water storage tanks including CP system design, inspection, evaluation, repair, installation, and commissioning. Miles is a member the Association for Materials Protection & Performance (AMPP) and is a NACE certified Cathodic Protection Level II Technician. Miles is a member of the American Waterworks Association (AWWA) and for the past 5 years has served as the Committee Chair for the AWWA D104/D106 Standard on Cathodic Protection.

Tim Wilson

Mr. Wilson is a Project Manager with DIXON Engineering, Inc., a firm specializing in engineering and inspection services for the coating industry.  Tim has 30 years of project management, consulting, and operational experience with both surface water and groundwater treatment and their associated distribution systems. 

Tim is a certified drinking water treatment and distribution operator in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota, as well as an AMPP Basic Coating Inspector and Concrete Coating Inspector.

Kevin Zei

Kevin Zei has 25 years of experience in the coating industry.  His focus is on water infrastructure projects working with owners and engineers in Wisconsin and Illinois to develop coating specifications for their projects.  He is a proud UW-Madison alum studying Forest Science but was drawn back to the family business of paint.  He holds AMPP Coating Inspector Level 2 and Concrete Coating Inspector Level 2 certifications and is an active member of AWWA and Rural Water in Wisconsin and Illinois.