Gaastra water tower gets new coat before winter

The little town of Gaastra is getting some TLC before winter sets in. The water tower has undergone a major facelift through a rather extensive process. Starting with an exterior sandblasting, the tower was covered with a tarp to prevent wind from interfering and debris from blowing into the surrounding neighborhood. Then, an industrial vacuum was used to dehumidify the space inside the tent, allowing a layer of sprayed-on primer to properly adhere to the tower’s metal exterior. The tank interior was blasted with the tank hatch sealed, preventing debris from old paint, which may contain lead, from escaping into the surrounding environment. The paint was then disposed of according to regulations for lead-based paints. After the sand blasting was complete, the tarp was lowered, and workers applied a layer of specialized grey paint to the spots where the tower had undergone metal repairs. After the white primer layer was applied, workers began painting the tower. The painters hung in “bird cages” from ropes that were secured from the ground to the top of the tower. The final coat is a weather-resistant epoxy designed to endure wind, rain and freezing conditions in the years to come.