Protecting Critical Infrastructure, Improving Water Quality, and Creating a Roadmap for Sustainable Growth

Project Summary

Customer

The City of La Salle, Illinois

Type of Project

Storage tanks, rehab and asset management

Mixing and venting system for TTHM reduction and chlorine residual control

Benefits:

• Proactive maintenance
• Water quality improvements
• Budget predictability and stability
• Peace of mind

A Major Step in Addressing Water Storage Infrastructure Challenges

La Salle’s water storage infrastructure faced several challenges that had developed over many years. Water towers showed visible signs of deterioration, including rust, cracking and peeling coatings, aging safety systems and equipment that no longer met current standards. In addition to these structural concerns, La Salle was experiencing water quality issues including elevated trihalomethane (THM) levels, inconsistent chlorine residuals and water stratification within certain tanks. These challenges highlighted the need for a proactive, comprehensive long-term asset management approach.

In 2023, the City of La Salle took a major step forward by partnering with USG Water Solutions to proactively maintain all four of its water towers, ensuring these critical assets continue to serve residents and businesses for decades to come. This included a structured plan for inspections, cleaning, repairs and long-term asset management, enhancing water quality and system efficiency. The proactive approach ensured that all tanks received regular maintenance, allowing the city to budget more predictably and avoid costly emergency repairs.

How USG Water’s maintenance program options made a difference

One of the unexpected benefits of partnering with USG Water Solutions was the ability to align scheduled tower maintenance with other critical infrastructure improvements. By coordinating closely with USG Water crews while the towers were temporarily out of service, the City of La Salle maximized efficiency, reduced costs and minimized disruption to residents. This strategic approach enabled the city to complete multiple projects simultaneously instead of separately, avoiding multiple shutdowns, additional planning and increased expenses. Ultimately, the collaboration not only optimized resources and protected the reliability of the water system but also helped accelerate the City of La Salle’s broader infrastructure improvement program.

Key Benefits

Water Works Foreman Patrick Watson highlighted several key project benefits:

• • Improved water quality: “The installation of new ventilation and mixing systems significantly improved water quality by reducing stratification and creating more consistent chlorine residuals. These improvements have significantly improved our water quality, and we’re excited about the long-term benefits for our residents.”
  • Improved safety and compliance: “USG Water demonstrates professionalism and safety on every job site. They have made our tanks OSHA safe and have been a pleasure to work with throughout the process.”
  • Long-term planning and budget stability: “One of the greatest benefits for the city has been the ability to budget and plan for future maintenance. I like the long-term schedule because I know what is planned for each water tower. The periodic inspection reports with detailed photos give me confidence that USG Water is on it if anything needs to be fixed.”
  • Infrastructure to be proud of: “Beyond protecting critical assets, the rehabilitation has given the water towers a renewed appearance that reflects the pride of the community. The City of La Salle towers look great! Clean and shiny paint really makes our American Flags stand out.”

About The City of La Salle

Tucked along the Illinois River and steeped in industrial history, the City of La Salle has long been recognized as a hardworking community built on resilience, innovation and pride, from its historic downtown and manufacturing roots to its commitment to public infrastructure.

Rich in history and built on industry, the City of La Salle, IL, has played an important role in the growth and development of North-Central Illinois for nearly two centuries. Founded in 1837 and named after the French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, the city’s early success was fueled by its strategic location along the Illinois River and the Illinois and Michigan Canal.