Project – Broughton Water Tower

Project Description

Client: Dee Valley Water
Location: Broughton | North West England

Dee Valley Water which serves parts of North West England and North East Wales required an experienced industrial roofing contractor to refurbish their water tower on their treatment site in Broughton. After assessing the works and putting forth a competitive proposal the contract was awarded to Alpha Roofing Systems and after a schedule and budget was agreed on we immediately started the process of tackling this complex yet exciting project.

The Challenge

Throughout the years the existing water tower had suffered some deterioration and so the aim was not only to refurbish and repair what was already in place but to also introduce new systems and materials to enable this 30m high structure to withstand future pressures and elongate its life cycle.

The design stage threw up some challenging engineering questions which pushed the limits of the materials used. The structure’s toroidal shape meant that aluminium roofing sheets with small tapers were used and the steel frames had to be pre-fabricated in modules then craned into position to allow installation.

The Actions and Solutions

Despite the challenges at design stage we inevitably found solutions and enabling works began, which included the erection of a full scaffold and goods/personnel hoist to the full perimeter of the structure.

Construction works began shortly after and the project involved removing all existing slate coverings, hot rolled steel structure and recoating the tank interior. Following this we installed a new roof structure, coverings and gutter system all to the DWI approved standards, signalling the end of a refurbishment project that was not without challenges but which ultimately could be hailed as a total success. At the same time the tank was shot blasted and treated with a DWI compliant coating system.

The Result

This demanding yet enjoyable project was completed on time and within budget, allowing the tower to return to its full operational status with as limited downtime as possible.

Acting as Principal Contractor, Alpha Roofing co-ordinated all site activity ensuring that safety and quality were priorities. With safety at the forefront of all operations we achieved no lost time accidents throughout the scheme, ensuring that all work was completed well within the timeframe allocated.

In short the project was a complete success, and most importantly, the life cycle of the water tower roof has been increased significantly and will continue to be protected for decades to come.