Pressure Contained: Crews Stop Troublesome Leak to Restore Decades-Old Digester Tank

Rather than level two aging anaerobic digesters, the City of Austin, MN, was hopeful that high-performance protective coating and lining systems could extend the digesters’ lives.

Two domestic anaerobic digesters for the City of Austin, Minnesota, respectively built in 1938 and 1959, had deteriorated. The tank’s concrete covers were cracked, allowing gas to escape and oxygen to enter. Opposed to building new structures, Greg Larson, Senior Sales Representative for Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings, the City of Austin, Champion Coatings and Wapasha Construction, were confident high-performance protective coating and lining systems could repair the damage to the existing structures. Under frigid conditions, learn how the team led the rehabilitation project to success.