Manitou awarded $577K grant for water tank rehabilitation
(MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo.) — The City of Manitou Springs has been awarded a $577,726 grant to rehabilitate the city's original 2 million-gallon Mesa Water Storage Tank, which has served the community since 1965.
According to the City of Manitou Springs, the grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) is funded through the Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Fund and will be matched with $622,274 from the city's Drinking Water Revolving Loan proceeds. The funds will help extend the life of the water tank.
According to the City, the 2 million-gallon steel tank has never undergone a full coating replacement since it was put into service. Recent inspections revealed advanced corrosion, prompting the need for structural repairs and updated safety features. Once drained, the tank will undergo a comprehensive evaluation before rehabilitation begins.
Rehabilitation work is scheduled to begin in August 2025. The City said exterior coatings will be replaced by mid-October, with interior rehabilitation, including piping repairs and the application of new protective coatings, resuming in spring 2026. The project is expected to be completed by June 2026.
To support continued service during the rehabilitation, the City said it is preparing to bring a new 1.1 million-gallon Mesa Water Tank online in May 2025. The construction of the new tank has been made possible through grant funding from both DOLA and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, allowing the project to move forward at no cost to Manitou Springs residents.
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