Kearns Improvement District celebrates a decade of growth that began with the 2016 water tank project at 5350 W. 5400 S. (Courtesy KID)
Kearns Improvement District recently celebrated a milestone: the 10th anniversary of the completion of a 5 million-gallon water tank that paved the way for future growth.
Located at 5350 W. 5400 S., near the KID offices, the original concrete tank, complete with a wooden roof, was a remnant of the World War II era and served Camp Kearns around 1942. Replacing the tank meant rethinking how it could maximize capacity while working within the constraints of the existing facility.
“It was quite a large tank and we still had to keep the business open, but situate the tank so that it fit back there in the corner,” said KID General Manager/CEO Greg Anderson. “In some places on the site, there was only 5 feet of separation between the fence and this large tank.”
The 2016 water tank project was done through Gerber Construction, with Structural Technologies providing the design that used post-tensioning systems and reinforcing steel for the tank.
The project replaced two tanks at the location — one of 1 million gallons and another of 2 million gallons — utilizing tendon technology that reduced the amount of concrete used and eliminated cracks to prevent leaks. Structural engineers had to get creative when placing the tank that measured 192 feet in diameter and 24 feet deep.
It worked so well that all new KID water tanks have used the same technology. Over the next 10 years, KID plans to build four new tanks, with two of those holding 5 million gallons. Locations for those tanks include two near Mountain View Corridor (one at 6200 South and the other at 5400 South).
“That is in anticipation of the growth we’re experiencing out on the west side,” Anderson said. “[The design] actually saves the district money because it uses less concrete. So it’s cheaper to build and the crack-free aspect of it has been great.”
Aging infrastructure is another ongoing challenge for the water district. KID replaced the original 16-inch steel line that was used to supply water to Camp Kearns from the east side of the Salt Lake Valley, with a 30-inch water line to address increased capacity.
The district serves more than 60,000 people across Kearns as well as areas in West Valley, West Jordan and a small part of Taylorsville. Anderson said KID aims to provide high-quality water despite economic and supply challenges.
He said KID is always looking for grants and federal funding to help reduce the costs of these projects while providing residents on the west side of the valley with the “highest quality of water they can get.” He said it’s an honor to serve the community by providing safe drinking water and sewer services.
“There are a lot of obstacles that we’re facing with additional tariffs and with additional costs that seem to escalate,” he said. “We recognize how difficult that is on our customers. We try and absorb as much of that as we can, but we are striving to make sure that we are providing the best value that they can get.”
