Contractor Responds to St. Clairsville ‘Mothballing’ Newer Water Tank
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The fate of the 4-year-old water tank at St. Clair Commons is in doubt since St. Clairsville City Council decided this summer that it is not practical to use and voted to discontinue its operation – meaning a loss of more than $2 million in loans that must be repaid.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency had sent a notice of violation to the city, indicating that the tank was built at an insufficient elevation. The original plans called for its placement about 45 feet above its current site. Safety and Service Director Jeremy Greenwood has also said the city has been unable to easily fill the tank and make full use of it due to this lack of elevation.
Don Quicksall, president of W.E. Quicksall & Associates, responded to council's decision to "mothball" the 500,000-gallon tank. In an email to city leaders, he states that it seems the city is more intent on blaming his company's work and the prior administration than on solving the problems.
Quicksall objected to the implication that his company did a poor job.
"I'm tired of bad PR and not responding. I haven't in years," he said Tuesday.
He objected to characterizations of the tank as "non-functional," adding that according to records he has obtained the tank has been in operation. He said there has been 20-25 feet of water in the 34-foot tank during the summer months.
He said the system must be operated in a different and more complex way when the tank is at a less-than-optimal elevation and a booster system is required. He added that a booster station would still be required even if the tank was constructed 45 feet higher. He said many systems in Ohio have tanks at different elevations, and if operated properly the tank's situation should not be a problem.
Quicksall said he last met with St. Clairsville officials in 2020 and was unaware of what has been done since, but he had been under the impression that the tank was operational.
"I don't understand why they're saying what they're saying," he said.
The length of time required to fill the tank is also a contested issue. Greenwood has said pumps at the water plant have sufficient pressure to get water to the elevation of the water towers, but the new tank would overflow and not allow the higher tanks to fill. He said it was necessary to install an altitude valve in the new tank, which limits the flow of water into the new tank.
Quicksall said an altitude valve keeps the tank from overflowing but is not intended to be a flow control valve.
"I don't know what their numbers are, what takes 'too long' and what is 'too long,'" Quicksall said.
Quicksall also commented on the city's plan to connect with Belmont County's water system and purchase water, saying the change of hydraulic sources would also affect how the tank is operated.
Quicksall added that his company was in contact with the city and planning for a new tank since Robert Vincenzo was mayor -- two administrations past -- and was told the 200,000-gallon tank dating from 1928 was past its useful life.
He also voiced concern that the presence of the Senior Suites at St. Clair Commons could necessitate a close source of water for fire suppression.
"They need the tank, in my opinion," he said.
He added that he disagreed that the city would not be able to fill the tank. He also said the need for water in that area is comparatively low, since it has only the Senior Suites complex on site.
The city and Quicksall have also clashed over the permit to install the 500,000-gallon tank, which Quicksall is seeking from the Ohio EPA to replace the 2017 permit. Quicksall said at the time it was not believed that the company needed to have another permit, since it was advised by the OEPA that a resubmission would only be needed if there are "substantial changes" and the company did not believe the change in elevation was substantial.
He said the decision to construct the tank at a lower elevation was made due to high estimated construction cost and poor soil at the original intended location.
St. Clairsville Mayor Kathryn Thalman could not be reached Tuesday for comment.
The Ohio EPA was asked about the state of the permit process and possible options for the tank. An OEPA spokesman emailed that the agency is researching the answers but was not able to provide them Tuesday.