The approach to DFW Airport is always interesting. If you do it fairly often, it's easy to identify your approach simply by reading the cities' names on their water towers. That's never been the case for Garland because almost all of our water storage tanks are on the ground. Our tanks easily hold twice as much water as most of the largest elevated tanks. However, an elevated tank is more efficient maintaining even water pressures.
 
The city has long had an old elevated tank just north of Forest Ave but the other storage tanks are all ground level. (There is another small water tower near I-635 but it is privately owned.)
 
Soon, that won't be true anymore. Just south of the intersection of the SH-66 and Country Club, at Commerce St, an new elevated tank will be raised to position.
 

 
Currently, the top section is scheduled to be hoist into place Friday morning, starting as early as 7 am. The lift will take four to five hours.
 
Here's a little more information on the city's newest addition to our water department's infrastructure:

• Tank Capacity: 2.5 Million Gallons
• Completed Structure Height (with handrail included): 220 feet
• Pedestal Diameter: 54 feet
• Tank Diameter: 104 feet

If you happen to be in the area and get a chance to see it, you might be interested in a little more information about the operation and why it is done this way:
 
Hoist Info

• Hoist weight is 251 tons.
• Hoist is made using 54 hydraulic jacks located at the top of the pedestal.
• Each jack has a capacity of 30 tons but for maximum safety jacks will only be lifting 4.6 tons.
• Each hoist cables is a 7-strand post-tension cable (similar to the cables used in a house slab).
• Each cable is 0.58 inches in diameter.
• The tank is centered-based on the center point and the radius, with the tank within ¼-inch of the radial line.
• The console on the dome has individual controls for a pair of jacks and a master that operates all the jacks at once. If the tank gets out of level going up they can adjust the jacks to re-level.

Why hoist?

• A more symmetrical, trued tank can be constructed on the ground than doing so in the air.
• It’s faster and easier than building one in the air.
• The tank can be painted better and at less cost than on the ground.
• It is safer for the workers involved.

Sequence of Events for Hoist

• Hoist crew arrives at the site.
• Access tube is set.
• Hoist equipment is set up on the dome.
• Hoist and level tank.

The next time you are flying over the city, you won't look at it the same again.