Eagle Mountain officials tour massive water tank nearing completion

Tucked behind the White Hills neighborhood along a meandering dirt road, progress continues on a project that Eagle Mountain City expects will improve the experience of residents’ water service.

“We need to check the air quality before climbing the ladder down into here,” said Tyler Stoker with FX Construction, one of the on-site construction workers said, lowering a reading device into an opening at the top.

It’s a chilly Tuesday afternoon, and members of the Eagle Mountain City Council and several of the City’s department heads have climbed atop an under-construction, $6.7 million water tank. Officials scheduled a tour of the site to monitor construction progress and better understand the project.

The project adds both capacity and redundancy to the City’s water utility infrastructure. Despite its location near White Hills, the tank will service the entire community.

Donning harness gear, officials make the descent inside the water tank.

“If you fall, the harness stops you,” Stoker said. Nervous laughter can be heard from those in attendance.  

Although the tank is not yet filled with water, the visual is something to behold.

Eagle Mountain’s utility infrastructure has been a major area of focus in 2024. Amid continued population growth and greater need for water within the city’s boundaries, keeping up with water use has created substantial need for added improvements to the City’s water infrastructure.

City Engineer Vince Hogge emphasized the importance of the tank in addressing Eagle Mountain’s growing needs.

“This water tank is a game-changer for Eagle Mountain,” Hogge said. “The added capacity will ensure residents have a consistent water supply, especially during the high-demand summer months. It’s also a major improvement for our firefighting capabilities, providing a large, on-demand water supply for emergencies.”

The water tank, set to be fully operational in 2025, will have an interior diameter of 180 feet and a height of 24 feet, with the capacity to hold 4 million gallons of water. Built from 5,000 psi post-tensioned concrete, the structure is designed for both durability and efficiency.

The project comes as Eagle Mountain continues to experience rapid population growth, which has strained the City’s utility systems in recent years. Periodic recommendations were made in summer 2024 to limit lawn watering to conserve water and ease tension on the City’s water systems.

The new tank is part of a proactive approach to ensure the City can meet both current and future demands.

“This is about building for the future while solving today’s challenges,” said Tyler Maffitt, Eagle Mountain’s Communications Manager. “We understand that infrastructure is the backbone of a thriving community, and this water tank is a key piece of that foundation. It’s a major investment in ensuring residents have access to reliable utilities, even as our population continues to grow.”

The tank’s enormous size is evident both on paper and in person.

During the tour, City officials got a first-hand look at its scale. The tank’s cavernous interior was evident when officials began testing the echo inside the tank’s interior.

“This is something we don’t often get to see up close,” said Maffitt. “Being inside this tank really gives you a sense of how much work has gone into this project and how essential it will be to supporting Eagle Mountain as we continue to grow.”

The tank is designed to provide several key benefits to the City. Its increased capacity will not only supply residents with water during peak usage times, such as hot summer months, but it will also create a reliable reserve for firefighting efforts in wildfire season.

This redundancy is critical for a city that values preparedness and safety for its residents.

“This tank is about more than just meeting water demand,” Hogge added. “It’s about ensuring the health and safety of our residents by having the infrastructure in place to handle emergencies. Whether it’s a summer heatwave or a fire, we’re building a system that can handle it.”

As Eagle Mountain continues to grow, projects like the construction of the additional White Hills water tank reflect the City’s dedication to keeping pace with its expanding population while preparing for the future.

Upon anticipated completion in 2025, Eagle Mountain will report eight tanks in operation with more planned in the coming years.

The tour ended with City officials emerging from the tank’s interior with a new perspective on the project. The visit was not only a chance to monitor progress but also a reminder of the careful planning and innovation behind the City’s growing infrastructure—a project built as much for today as for generations yet to come.