Paint supplier to recoat two water towers after unexplained peeling; company to test new coating
Summary
The board heard that paint is peeling on two city water towers; the paint supplier (identified as Tanimi) will cover repairs and proposed testing a new pool-derived coating on peeled areas before committing to full recoating in spring.
Kevin (public works staff) informed the Board of Public Works that paint on the Clay Street and Enduro water towers has peeled in roughly the same orientation on both tanks. The paint supplier, identified in the transcript as Tanimi, inspected the tanks, removed peeled areas for analysis and reported that its technical team and chemists could not identify a definitive cause.
Tanimi told staff it will stand behind the paint and cover replacement costs. The supplier proposed applying a newly developed coating—described in the meeting as a pool/coating product adapted for water tanks—on affected patches before winter as a test and then, if the test performs satisfactorily, returning in spring to recoat the tanks. Staff said the initial patching work could occur in November during a forecasted weather window, but full recoating would wait until weather is appropriate.
Board members and staff expressed that the pattern of peeling on both tanks and on the same side was unusual and that even experienced supplier technicians had not seen this failure mode before. Staff said the supplier will begin patching work at no cost to the city and that the city will monitor results over winter and into spring.
Ending: Tanimi will perform patch repairs at no cost and may propose a full recoating using the new coating if the test patches hold through winter. Board requested staff to coordinate scheduling and monitor outcomes.
