Water tower maintenance is crucial for ensuring safe and reliable water service. It involves regular inspections, cleaning, and repairs to maintain water quality and the structural integrity of the tower. SPU storage tank/water tower maintenance is planned in the Capital Improvement Planning (CIP) budget with funding collected through water rates. Investments in infrastructure are significant so maintaining it is the prudent thing to do.
Tanks/towers are inspected every few years to identify issues such as corrosion, leaks or damage to the coating. Addressing these issues early can prevent larger, more costly repairs in the future and extend the life of the tower. To that point, steel tanks that are well-maintained can have a lifespan of more than 100 years. Cleaning is also done inside every few years to remove sediment and debris that can affect the quality of the water and outside to protect the coating.
Painting (or recoating) a water tower occurs approximately every 25-30 years. This is done for two reasons – corrosion prevention and aesthetics. The exterior coating protects the steel structure from rust and other environmental damage. Repainting also allows for aesthetic improvements and branding opportunities.
Water tower #3 on Co Rd 83/Canterbury Rd (currently being repainted) is located in the heart of our entertainment district, located near Valleyfair, Canterbury Park and the new amphitheater. Thousands of visitors travel to Shakopee each year and this tower provides the perfect opportunity to promote our community branding. The new color scheme is fresh (white and gray) and will feature a custom graphic that depicts community features and activities available in Shakopee. This graphic will replace the standard tower artwork (i.e., SPU logo and “Shakopee” only.) Seen from miles, this tower will be the iconic water tower for Shakopee, much like the “golf ball and tee” tower on 10th Avenue was in the seventies.
Water Tower #4, on Dominion Ave, is next to be maintained and repainted in 2026. A new water tower is planned with sitework and construction starting in 2nd half 2025.This will be SPU’s 9th water tower and will be located adjacent to the holding tank on Wood Duck Trail and Marschall Rd. No unique artwork is scheduled for either of these towers.
