Photo by Kim Hilsenbeck
by KIM HILSENBECK
You may have seen people climbing the water towers around Kyle last week, like this one at Dacy Lane northeast of downtown. What you may not have known is that once they got to the top, they were going inside.
Wearing fully encapsulated dive suits equipped with audio and video communication, specially trained divers from Texas Tank Services swam around Kyle’s water tanks checking for structural soundness.
Each year, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requires structural inspections of public water supply tanks, including their safety and security systems.
Divers checked tank integrity and paint condition, looked for evidence of rust, and identified any buildup of minerals and deposits, all of which could reduce overall water quality. The diver’s helmet-mounted camera sent live video feed to a technician on the ground who completed an inspection report using the video and the diver’s observations.
For safety, pumps and monitors are taken off line during the inspection. Suits and equipment are disinfected prior to entering each tank. Once the divers exit and all the safety and security systems are back in place, the tank resumes normal operation.
Texas Tank Services will prepare a report for the City of Kyle with any recommended improvements or repairs. The report will include a DVD with the video from each inspection.
In case you’re curious, the water tank at Dacy Lane is 97 feet high and holds about 300,000 gallons of water.
