Klamath Falls, Oregon – The City of Klamath Falls has started a significant project to replace out-of-date water tanks vital to the city’s supply in an attempt to update and protect its key water infrastructure. The project, which fits Oregon’s Resilience Plan meant to improve seismic safety for water systems, was launched with the Klamath Falls City Council’s recent contract with CDM Smith on design and engineering of new facilities.
A key component of the city’s water system, the project centers on the Center Reservoir Water Tank Expansion. Currently, two primary tanks on Sixth Street support the Conger Wellfield, which supplies around 80% of the water for Klamath Falls. These tanks are known as the center-west and center-east tanks and were built in 1928 and 1930 respectively. Apart from surpassing their usable lifetime, they experienced structural damage in 1993 during a seismic event. They were constructed before contemporary earthquake design guidelines were developed, so they are vulnerable to the next seismic disasters.
The new water tank construction calls for several major improvements. Two new tanks with advanced seismic resistance elements and more storage capacity are planned to replace the current ones in the city. Along with increasing the city’s resistance to earthquakes, this improvement will enable the Melrose and North tanks—among the oldest in the system—to be decommissioned.
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The proposed project calls for site leveling, the building of a perimeter retaining wall, and the installation of two new water storage tanks furnished with sophisticated equipment. Telemetry panels, altitude valves, isolation valves, booster pumps, control panels, and required power controls will be among other improvements.
Renowned engineering and construction company CDM Smith has been hired to handle engineering services through the building process and offer initial design. The agreement with CDM Smith calls for a $2,735,000 city fiscal contribution. This cooperation is projected to bring a multitude of knowledge in water system design and seismic safety precautions, therefore ensuring that the project not only satisfies but surpasses present safety criteria.
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For Klamath Falls, the project is essential since it aims to guarantee the dependability and safety of its water source against possible disasters. The city wants to protect its citizens and keep continuous water supply even in case of significant seismic activity by aggressively updating its infrastructure. This forward-looking strategy captures a larger dedication to sustainability and resilience that is growingly crucial in municipal planning throughout the area.