I-Team: City considers more frequent rooftop water tank inspections

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The ABC7 I-Team has an update on rooftop water tanks in Chicago, some of which have split open or fell down. The tanks will be inspected more often under a city ordinance now under consideration. The I-Team first [url HREF="[br /]news/i-team-many-of-chicagos-aging-water-tanks-fail-inspection/62426/" TARGET="" REL=""]reported on the expected rule change two weeks ago[/url]. [br /][br /]On Thursday, the city moved toward urgent action due to safety concerns about aging rooftop water tanks. This comes two weeks after the I-Team uncovered tanks in disrepair and public safety concerns. Two recent accidents and extreme weather this past winter have now pushed Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Department of Buildings to call for all water tanks to be inspected within in the year. [br /][br /]The new ordinance was introduced at this week's Chicago city council meeting. In addition to the immediate inspection provision, the proposal calls for water tanks to be inspected every two years by a licensed architect or structural engineer. Currently, the tanks only have to be inspected every five years. [br /][br /]"The 5 year time span from report to report is still a long time and we want to shorten that in the new ordinance," said Felicia Davis, commissioner, Chicago Building Department. [br /][br /]Most of the tanks are at least a century old. One tank in River North split open in February, leaking all of its water. And last July, a water tower in Lakeview fell off a building, injuring three people.[br /][br /]Our Eyewitness News investigation earlier this month showed many of the water tanks had failed their most recent city inspections. [br /][br /]After such a severe winter, buildings department commissioner Felicia Davis told the i-Team was time to tighten rules for inspecting these structures.[br /][br /]"We are pushing to make sure there is integrity inside and out because sometimes from outside the tank and the structure look sound. There are natural elements and the are susceptible to wind and rain and even heat contraction and expansion. We want to make sure the inside of the structure is sound as well," said Davis. [br /][br /]Backers of the proposed city water tower ordinance say they hope it will pass this summer. There are 170 rooftop towers still in use in Chicago and it is the building owners who are ultimately responsible for making sure those structures are safe. [br /][br /][br /][br /]