Project Overview

The City of Everett Water Reclamation Facility represents a critical infrastructure investment in public health and environmental protection. Long Painting Company successfully completed the comprehensive coating restoration of four concrete basins essential to the facility's water treatment operations. These basins play a vital role in the decontamination and purification processes that ensure safe drinking water for the Everett community.

Project Scope and Execution

The project required meticulous attention to surface preparation and coating application due to the demanding service environment. Each phase was executed according to strict industry standards to ensure long-term performance.

Surface Preparation Standards:

• Blast cleaning performed to SSPC-SP13 specification
• Surface profile achieved to ICRI CSP 5 standard
• Complete removal of contaminants and deteriorated concrete
• Proper surface texture created for optimal coating adhesion

Basin Wall System: Following comprehensive surface preparation, the basin walls were resurfaced with Tnemec Series N218, a high-performance concrete resurfacer engineered to restore structural integrity and provide a uniform substrate. The protective finish consisted of two coats of Tnemec Series 21, each applied at 10 mils dry film thickness, delivering exceptional chemical resistance and long-term durability in the challenging water treatment environment.

Floor Remediation Challenges: The basin floors presented complex moisture-related issues that required specialized treatment. Vapor drive conditions threatened coating adhesion and system longevity, demanding Long Painting's technical problem-solving expertise.

Floor Treatment Protocol:

• Initial assessment and moisture testing to quantify vapor drive issues
• Application of Tnemec Series N242 at 1/4-inch thickness as vapor barrier system
• Concrete repair and surface leveling incorporated into the barrier application
• Final Series 21 topcoat system applied after proper cure and preparation

The Critical Role of Water Reclamation Facilities

Water Reclamation Facilities function as the backbone of modern public health infrastructure, employing sophisticated multi-stage processes to transform wastewater into potable water. These facilities protect communities by removing biological contaminants, chemical pollutants, heavy metals, and pathogenic organisms that pose serious health risks. The treatment process involves primary settling, biological treatment, chemical disinfection, and advanced filtration stages, with each concrete basin serving specific functions in this complex purification chain.

The concrete basins at the Everett WRF operate under demanding conditions including constant water immersion, exposure to treatment chemicals, temperature fluctuations, and structural loading from water volumes. Without proper protective coatings, these concrete structures would deteriorate rapidly, compromising treatment efficiency and potentially allowing contamination of the water supply.

Long Painting Company: Engineering Excellence in Protective Coatings

Long Painting Company has established itself as a premier contractor in the industrial coating sector through decades of specialized experience with water treatment infrastructure. The company's foundation rests on technical expertise, unwavering quality standards, and comprehensive understanding of protective coating chemistry and application science.

Company Strengths and Capabilities:

• Extensive experience with municipal water treatment facilities across the Pacific Northwest
• Deep technical knowledge of Tnemec coating systems and their specific applications
• Specialized equipment and trained personnel for blast cleaning and precision coating application
• Quality assurance programs ensuring compliance with industry specifications
• Problem-solving expertise for challenging substrate conditions and environmental factors

Long Painting's approach combines traditional craftsmanship with modern coating technology, recognizing that proper surface preparation accounts for the majority of coating system success. Their technicians understand the critical relationship between surface profile, coating adhesion, and long-term performance, particularly in immersion service environments like water treatment basins.

Technical Innovation and Problem Solving

The vapor drive issue in the basin floors required advanced diagnostic capabilities and specialized treatment protocols. "Rather than applying standard solutions, we implemented a comprehensive moisture mitigation strategy", stated Rick Gilbreath with Tnemec Company.  "Using Series N242 as both a vapor barrier and concrete repair system was a great solution to keep the project on track.  It also demonstrates the technical application expertise of Long Painting, who was able to pivot into a much more technical application than that which was specified.  It really distinguishes and seperates Long Painting as an experienced industrial coating contractor from those with general painting service experience".  

Project Significance and Long-term Impact

This coating restoration project represents far more than surface protection—it ensures continued operation of essential public health infrastructure while maximizing taxpayer investment in municipal assets. The work extends the service life of the concrete basins by decades, maintaining structural integrity and treatment efficiency while preventing costly premature replacement.

Project Benefits:

• Extended asset life expectancy from approximately 15 years to 25 years
• Maintained compliance with federal drinking water safety regulations
• Eliminated potential for concrete deterioration affecting water quality
• Reduced long-term maintenance costs through superior coating durability
• Enhanced operational reliability during critical treatment processes

The successful completion demonstrates how specialized industrial contractors contribute to community welfare through technical excellence and infrastructure stewardship. Long Painting's work at the Everett WRF exemplifies the intersection of engineering expertise, environmental responsibility, and public service that characterizes successful municipal infrastructure projects.