By Mike Rego
EAST PROVIDENCE — In obvious need of a good cleaning for sure, plans are already in the works to tidy up the landmark water tower in Kent Heights and maybe go a bit beyond.
The issue was discussed at the February 21 meeting of the City Council after being brought to the floor by new Ward 3 member Frank Fogarty.
Last week, Department of Public Works Director Dan Borges told the group the tower had not deteriorated in any measurable way.
He said it was simply dirty due to “a combination of mold and fuel from aircrafts…It’s very common. It’s something water authorities across the state deal with on a regular basis. You’re cleaning, patching painting tanks ever three to five years.”
Borges’ schedule of events fits with that of the last time the status of the tower was significantly addressed.
Sitting on the highest point in the city and located at the water system hub in Kent Heights, the tower was only refurbished some five years ago.
The then-council approved a bid of $1.54 million by Atlas Painting and Sheeting Corp. of Amherst, N.Y. in May of 2017. Atlas eventually completed both interior and exterior repairs to the then 20-year-old structure, including its repainting.
Borges told Fogarty and the rest of the council the water division was already in the process of “developing a set of specifications” to get tower cleaned.
Borges said the administration was seeking prices for two different types of cleaning technologies: traditional power washing and robotic cleansing, which he noted was “likely to be a lot more expensive.”
Fogarty, who acknowledged the efforts on the matter by his immediate predecessor from Ward 3 Nate Cahoon, asked if it were possible to repaint the tower a darker color and if a new logo could be painted on its bulbous top.
Borges said in reply towers are painted a “lighter color so as not to draw sunlight,” which can cause issues with water quality.
About the existing logo, a different letter formation mistakenly stenciled during the 2017 project rather than the “official” interlocking “EP” used by the school department and the city, Borges said it was not currently included in the scope of the planned cleaning, but that he would look into the possibility of replacing it.