New water tank nears completion

By AMY SATTERWHITE / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Workers with Crom Construction have to be careful, as shown by crew members working on the new city water tower under construction off Highway 127 and Highway 108. (Amy Satterwhite photos)

Work on the city of McMinnville’s newest water storage tank off Viola Road is progressing and water should be flowing within the next four months.

Crews from Crom Construction Co. and Harrison Construction Co. are barreling along on the $2.6 million project. Water and Wastewater director Carl Davis said when completed, the new tank is expected to stabilize water pressure and provide additional water storage for city residents.

The two construction crews are simultaneously building the tank and tunneling for a water transmission line, with the tank located off the Highway 127 and Highway 108 split just outside of town.

The 20-inch water main is being built from there to the city’s water treatment plant located off Old Morrison Road.

The city has been working for several years to see a new storage tank become reality. Davis has said the location of the new tank was chosen because adding an elevated tank in town would have been cost prohibitive.

Davis said the tank is about 40 percent complete and the trenching work is about 75 percent complete.