Rochester tackles water storage maintenance backlog with Apache Tower rehab contract

Rochester tackles water storage maintenance backlog with Apache Tower rehab contractRochester Public Utilities has awarded a $671,000 contract to O&J Coatings Inc. to rehabilitate the Apache Water Tower, marking the first of several planned projects to address the utility's water storage maintenance backlog.

The utility developed its 2026 and 2027 budgets to increase investments in water tank maintenance after identifying a growing backlog.

O&J Coatings Inc. won the comprehensive rehabilitation contract with a $671,000 bid, coming in under the $700,000 project budget.

The scope includes full coating replacement, lead paint remediation in the dry interior, foundation repairs, and a critical expansion joint replacement.

Alternate bid items incorporated into the project feature a new tank mixer to prevent winter ice buildup and LED obstruction lights.

Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) in Minnesota is ramping up investments in its water storage infrastructure to address a growing maintenance backlog, beginning with the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Apache Water Tower. During a June 23, 2026, meeting, the Public Utility Board unanimously approved a $671,000 contract to O&J Coatings Inc. for the Apache Tower No. 87 Rehabilitation and Repainting project. The contract came in under the utility's $700,000 budget, drawing competitive interest from five bidders. Assistant General Manager Todd Blomstrom noted that the project is the first of several planned for the near future. The push follows an engineering and operations report from last year that identified a backlog in the maintenance and rehabilitation of RPU's water storage facilities. In response, the utility structured its 2026 and 2027 budgets to increase capital investments in tank maintenance to prevent further delays. The Apache Tower project encompasses a full removal and replacement of the tank's coating systems across the exterior, wet interior, and dry interior. Blomstrom noted that testing detected some lead paint in the dry interior—which does not come into contact with the water supply—and the contract includes necessary remediation for its removal. Beyond recoating, the project includes several structural and mechanical upgrades. Crews will repair grout and concrete along the ring foundation and replace the expansion joint in the pit beneath the tank. The expansion joint is a critical component that allows the water main to expand and contract with seasonal temperature changes without pulling apart. Blomstrom highlighted the importance of this replacement, noting that RPU experienced an expansion joint failure on a different tank last year. The utility also approved $53,000 in alternate bid items to modernize the facility. These additions include upgrading the tower's obstruction lights to LEDs, replacing a catwalk with a full plate landing for worker safety, and installing a new tank mixer. The mixer will circulate water during winter months to prevent ice buildup, which can physically damage the tank's interior coating as water levels fluctuate. The base bid from O&J Coatings was $618,000, bringing the total contract to $671,000. Board members confirmed the tower will be repainted to match its existing blue color.