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The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) plans to replace the water storage facility at 17710 Buehler Road in Olney.
The existing tank, also known as a standpipe, is due for rehabilitation and repair due to its age. It was built in 1963 on property between Sandy Spring Bank and St. Peter’s Catholic Church.
WSSC is replacing the standpipe with a new elevated tank that officials say will improve water quality and system pressure reliability, as well as increase the usable volume of water stored in the facility.
Photo from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
The new elevated tank, which will be built to the east of the existing standpipe within the same property, will provide 1.5 million gallons of water for drinking and fire protection to the community.
“The tank is going from the current 2.5 million gallons to a new water storage tank with 1.5 million gallons, however, the tank is changing from the current standpipe to a more storage-efficient elevated tank,” WSSC spokesman Luis Maya said.
He said the usable volume in the existing standpipe is approximately three-quarters of a million gallons compared to the 1.5 million gallons in the new tank, “effectively doubling the capacity.”
Maya said the contractor is expected to begin work within the next two weeks and the project is expected to be completed in August 2019.
The project includes the construction of the new elevated tank, installation of new piping and valve vaults, a new fence surrounding the perimeter of the property and demolition of the existing standpipe when the new elevated tank is in service.
Terri Hogan can be reached at [email protected].