The Battle With Water

Ironic I suppose that we should be troubled by water getting into our water tower.  The problem is that rain, especially when wind-blown, runs down the windward walls of the massive tank in volume and at pressure.   The slightest weakness in what should be a rainproof seal between the cast iron of the tank and the stone supporting walls finds its way through causing dampness and eventually black mould within.  Eventually, following the sort of prolonged and intense rain we have had so far this year floods the space between the fibreglass roof inside the tank and any holes in the tank itself.

There were only three deliberate holes in the base of the tank - 1. the water inlet pipe, 2. the outlet pipe and 3. the overflow pipe.  Pipes 1 and 3 are very definitely dry nowadays.  Pipe 2 carries all the rainwater from the roof to our underground rainwater harvesting system.  The fibreglass roof necessarily drains into that huge downpipe via a vulnerable outlet.  We think that needs exposing, enlarging and making good.  That is in hand when roofer Darren Philips can fit us in.  It that does not improve matters, the existing fibreglass roof will be replaced with a rubber roof laid above it.

There is also a fourth hole in the base of the tank - the massive hole through which the stairs and the lift shaft pass.   The removal of five entire tank base plates, each 4 feet square, creates a mighty big hole for any incoming rain to eventually pass.  That is what has been happening for some months now, damaging the parts of the floor below, the lift and its electronics and the tank walls themselves, especially at the south end, evidenced by ever worsening black mould.   Our building insurance covers the inside damage but of course it is up to us to keep the roof itself fit for purpose.

This week was to be the week to begin dealing with the unsightly and unhealthy black mould.  Se found a firm called The Mould Team who agreed to deal with the matter, having seen photographs of the extent and height (about 10 metres).  They attended on the dot on Monday 29th July but would do nothing unless we provided scaffolding access which they specified.  Disappointing but unsurprising so we set about finding a local scaffolder who could quickly provide access.  We struck gold with scaffolder Aide who scaffolded it the very next day.   At the very time the scaffolding was going up The Mould Team emailed to say they could no longer do the job as their men were not willing to work that high - scaffolding of not.

That left us in quite a fix - scaffolded but nobody to actually to climb it and deal with the problems -

A bit of Googling found us PureMaintenanceUK, mould eradication specialists we had found before but rejected as they insisted on using 'dry fog' to get rid of residual spores in the air - a tough and expensive call for a huge water tower.  Still, I explained our predicament and they responded straight away without the dry fog extra.

Long story short - scaffolded on Wednesday and job done by PureMaintenanceUK on Friday!!  The de-moulded but still rusty water stained walls will be painted with fungicidal paint before the scaffolding is removed.