Raceway Mall Tank Rehabilitation

French & Parrello Associates (FPA) is the Freehold Township Utilities (Public Water & Sanitary Sewer) Department engineering consultant. FPA assists the Utilities Department with various tasks such as asset management, capital projects, compliance, permitting, developer reviews, etc. Through assisting with asset management, FPA identified that the Township’s 3 MG Raceway Mall Tank required rehabilitation which is a critical component of the Township’s Water Storage and Distribution System.

The Raceway Mall Water Storage Tank is a 3 million gallon (MG) standpipe, constructed in 1988 with a diameter of 75-feet and height of 91-feet. The tank is a critical part of the Township’s water distribution system and was constructed with the development of the Freehold Raceway Mall.

FPA assisted the Township with the rehabilitation through various phases of the project, including the design, bid, and engineering services during construction. During the design phase, FPA inspected the tank, reviewed prior inspection reports, prepared rehabilitation Contract Specifications (including lead abatement requirements) and Drawings for public bidding. The following major items were included as part of the project:

1. Tank interior preparation including a full near-white blast (SSPC-SP10), sediment cleaning, and application of a high-performance zinc/epoxy coating system certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) for use in potable water systems;
2. Spot corrosion repairs as required and identified;
3. Minor structural repair work to the tank appurtenances and tank overflow pipe; and
4. Tank exterior preparation including a full commercial blast (SSPC-SP6), and application of a high-performance exterior coating system.

During the bid phase, FPA assisted the Township to advertise the project, receive bids, review bids, and prepare a Report Upon Bids with recommendations for award of the Contract.

During the construction phase, FPA provided full-time inspection services and construction administration services. During coating work, routine services included the evaluation of surface preparation and profile; monitoring of weather conditions to ensure that they are suitable for coating application; observation of proper mixing of coatings; measurement of wet and dry film thicknesses; inspection of surfaces prior to the application of subsequent coats; holiday testing; adhesion testing; evaluation of the final curing; and final inspection of the completed coating system.

The project was scheduled for work to start during the Township’s low demand period which is October through April. The rehabilitation construction was completed in March 2025, prior to the spring and higher demand periods.