Site 10: Water Towers

Site History and Background

Water Towers (Ridolfi, 2005d)

The two steel water towers on a hilltop near the Cantonment Area and Family Housing Area were part of the water supply system for the Makah AFS and were built in the 1950s concurrent with the Makah AFS.  Chemically treated water from the reservoir was pumped from the treatment plant and stored in the towers for final use (Radian, 1987).  The 75,000- gallon and 30,000-gallon water towers both have attached steel ladders that access the tops of the tanks.  The water towers are now abandoned.

The ladders attached to the water towers constitute a falling hazard.  Lead-based paint on the towers is an additional concern.

Activities to Date

LRI sampling locations (Ridolfi, 2005d)

The Makah Environmental Restoration Team performed site inspections in October 2000 and in March and April 2004, and the site was one of 10 sites investigated during the 2004 limited remedial investigation (Ridolfi, 2005d).  Two paint samples (one from each tower) and one soil sample were collected and analyzed for lead.  The paint samples were obtained from the towers' white/gray exterior paint with gray and orange base layers; the soil sample was collected adjacent to the southern water tower.

The two paint samples were confirmed as lead-based paint (greater than 0.5 percent lead).  The lead concentration in the soil sample was slightly below the screening level, but was relatively elevated (one order of magnitude) compared to most other results for lead in soil from the Reservation, indicating that lead-based paint from the tower has impacted the surrounding soil.  It is possible that lead concentrations in some soils in this area could exceed the screening level.

Planned Activities

The Tribe considers this site a lower priority (Priority C). The following activities are planned for 2006 to 2010:

• Remove water towers.
• Remove lead-impacted soil near water towers.

Deconstruction and Removal of Water Towers: The water towers will be deconstructed and removed by a contractor certified to remove and handle lead-based paint.  Proper deconstruction methods and material handling techniques will be employed.  The construction debris will be shipped off site for proper disposal

Removal of Lead-Contaminated Soil: Lead-contaminated soil around the water towers will be excavated, removed, and transported off site for proper disposal.  Sampling will be conducted during the excavation to determine the nature and extent of the contamination.  The cleanup efforts will continue until the site meets the required cleanup standards.  Voids left by the excavation will be backfilled with clean materials and compacted to the desired density to match the surrounding surface.

Additional Information:

• Fact Sheet – Site 10: Water Towers