NORTH SMITHFIELD – A neighborhood watched on Friday, June 21 as an obsolete structure that had cast shadow over their homes for decades was finally removed.
Contractors began disassembling a roughly 110-foot high water storage tank on Country Way, using precision to remove pieces of the structure in stages and leave behind a vacant lot that may be used for open space for residents’ benefit in the future.
Built in 1979, the 0.1 million-gallon Country Way tank was part of the original Slatersville Water system. It was decommissioned in 2006 when the Woonsocket Interconnect came online, and the Slatersville Public Water Supply began receiving its water directly from the city of Woonsocket.
Funded with federal grants through the American Rescue Plan Act, removal of the tank is part of a larger North Smithfield Water Department project, which also includes removing a second, out of commission .5 million gallon storage tank on Comstock Road, and rehabbing the active 1 million-gallon tank at the same location.
“With the infusion of the ARPA money, it made a lot of sense to take care of this, and make sure fire suppression and clean water infrastructure in town are up to date,” said Town Administrator Paul Zwolenski.
Preparation for the project began earlier in the week, when water service was briefly shut off to homes in the area while the tank was disconnected from the system, with all water fully restored by Wednesday morning.
“We didn’t have any reports of troubles with water,” Zwolenski said of the brief shut down.
Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., the engineering consultant, is overseeing all aspects of the project, and R.P. Iannuccillo and Sons Construction Company won the construction bid. Removing the Country Way tank was just the first step, with the final leg of the project expected to be completed in 2025.
“The tank’s coming down in sections,” explained Anthony Vincenzo, of R.P. Iannuccillo, noting that subcontractor Vinagro was performing the initial stage of work on Friday.
Zwolenski noted that demolition of the structure would eliminate the potential for kids to climb up it.
“That dangerous situation is now going to be removed,” he said.
He noted that the Rhode Island Department of Health was also urging the town to take action to remove the outdated infrastructure.
“That tank has been out of service for a number of years,” Zwolenski said. “It looms over people’s homes. It’s time to come down.”
And come down it did on a hot Friday afternoon as those in the neighborhood gathered to watch the unique process, with the top piece of the massive structure appearing like a flying saucer as it swung slowly to the ground.
Asked what will be done with the soon-to-be vacant roughly half acre town-owned property, Zwolenski said it may be enhanced with benches, flowers and a short walking path.
“Hopefully it will be turned into a small neighborhood park,” he said. “It could be a nice little place for the immediate neighborhood to sit and relax, maybe socialize with their neighbors.”
Check out more photos and video from the work below.
