Flower Mound, Texas 3.0 MG Prestressed Concrete Tank Natgun Corporation's 3.0 million gallon wire-wound, precast, prestressed concrete ground storage tank is not just another pretty tank. Chosen as the 2004 Public Works Project of the Year by the American Public Works Assoc. (APWA) Texas Chapter, the eye-catching architectural treatment is not all that separates this tank project from others of a similar size.

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This project led to a new standard in cooperation, partnering the Town of Flower Mound, their consultant, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., and their contractor, Natgun Corporation, with the neighboring community while completing Water Department objectives within the approved budget and schedule.

The Town of Flower Mound spared no expense in creatively addressing area resident's concerns. Community growth had encompassed the six-plus acres held by the Water Department. The original 1.0 and 2.0 million gallon water storage tanks covered just over an acre of that plot. The remaining site was covered with trees and a neighborhood park built in the early 1990's in response to new families moving into the area. Despite strong need for more water storage, local residents were opposed to the construction of this proposed 3.0 MG tank for a number of reasons; i.e., an unsightly structure lowering their property values, construction disruptions, potential safety hazards (especially for children), and the loss of their park, to name a few.

In conjunction with Kimley-Horn and with feedback from Natgun, the Town of Flower Mound introduced a plan that made the area residents part of the decision-making process. By actively seeking the participation of its citizens, the Town changed the opinion of a majority of the area residents and turned the situation into a positive, meeting both the current and future needs of the community and the citizens most affected by the construction and presence of the tank.

Addressing the issue of aesthetics, Natgun built a sample wall of various architectural styles at the project site and residents whose homes backed up to the neighborhood park, voted on their preferred design. The design selected is a multicolored, split-faced block façade with cast stone horizontal courses. Included in the motif was a “window pane” effect, giving the structure the appearance of a building rather than a water tank. The block façade covers the outside of the precast concrete tank and breaks up the vertical elevation of the tank wall. The wrought iron fencing with masonry posts, using the same style of brick as the new tank, also lends to the feel of the tank as a building rather than an engineering structure.

The park, which residents were concerned would be removed, was instead enhanced with the addition of benches covered by shade canopies, a water fountain, new trees, and a hike-and-bike trail that ties into the Town's existing trail system. The park is now equipped with an irrigation system to keep the area green and beautiful through a dry hot summer. A one-to-one tree replacement was part of the design, and (in most cases) healthier trees were introduced to the site. The existing and added foliage created a “living screen” between the park and the tank site. The decorative fencing keeps children (and adults) a safe distance from the new and existing tanks.

Natgun employed various methods to ease the burden of construction on the neighborhood, such as limiting work hours from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday, limiting the traffic by using only one entrance to the site, and parking at the site of the existing tanks rather than on the streets. Keeping the neighborhood aware of significant construction milestones or large efforts requiring additional people or machinery lessened the level of complaints. Natgun personnel wore special identification badges at all times when near the project site to alleviate the fear of “strangers” in the neighborhood. Natgun's overall safety program employed during construction followed all OSHA, state and local requirements and regulations. No man-hours were lost due to injury during construction of this project.

Regular public meetings—with representatives from the Town of Flower Mound, Kimley-Horn and Natgun—were held to share with interested citizens what to expect during the construction phase of the project. Information was communicated in layman's terms to ensure area residents fully understood exactly what would be happening and when. Along with Natgun's Construction Superintendent, Kimley-Horn kept an on-site representative during the entire construction process that neighbors were able to approach at any time, either in person or via a dedicated cell phone. As additional requests were voiced, these were recognized and implemented by the Town, Kimley-Horn and Natgun, creating a positive atmosphere.

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