By Maggie Masterson, Class of 2017
Clemson University Facilities is erecting a new water tower to serve the needs of Clemson’s expanding campus.
The new tank will allow the university to store and utilize one million gallons of water, which is the full capacity of the current standpipe storage. The existing water tower on Kite Hill can only utilize 150,000 gallons due to its design, so University Facilities determined that a new tank was necessary for the rapidly-growing campus.
Clemson University is responsible for providing 23,000 students with water for domestic use, sanitary purposes, and fire protection. The primary source for this water is the Anderson Regional Joint Water System.
“Our goals were to increase local university safe drinking water storage and reliability to support the growing needs of the campus population well beyond 2035. This new elevated water tank project accomplishes these goals and provides a significant landmark along a key gateway to Clemson University,” said Tony Putnam, Clemson’s director of Utility Services.
The water reserves in the new tank will be able to supply campus with water for two days in the case of a major water disruption. The old reserves stored less than eight hours of usable water. This water tower will also replace the one that was removed at the Dothuit Hills construction site.
An additional benefit to the university is that a large capacity tank will save money on water costs, due to the fact that water can be pumped at more cost effective times of the day.
The total project design and construction budget is $3.5 million, with completion of the tank this summer. Painting of the water tank will begin in May. Removal of the old Kite Hill tank is set for the end of the year.
