ANSI AWWA D101-53 (1986) PDF

Full title and description

AWWA D101-53 (R86) — AWWA Standard for Inspecting and Repairing Steel Water Tanks, Standpipes, Reservoirs, and Elevated Tanks, for Water Storage. This document provides minimum-consensus requirements and guidance for visual and technical inspection of steel water-storage structures and for the conduct of repairs and associated work needed to restore or maintain serviceability and water tightness prior to repainting or renovation.

Abstract

This standard sets out inspection procedures, qualifications for the inspection agency, reporting requirements, and repair/rehabilitation guidance for steel water-storage tanks, standpipes, reservoirs and elevated tanks. It recommends regular inspection intervals (typically not more than five years), details what information should be recorded, and describes types of repairs, responsibilities, cleanliness and acceptance criteria to help owners and contractors plan, bid, and execute maintenance and renovation projects.

General information

• Status: Withdrawn/reaffirmed historic AWWA standard (original 1953 standard later reaffirmed; labeled as D101-53(R86) in AWWA listings and is shown as withdrawn in AWWA product listings).
• Publication date: Approved as an AWWA standard May 15, 1953; reaffirmed without revision Feb 3, 1979 and Jan 26, 1986 (often cited as D101-53 (R86)).
• Publisher: American Water Works Association (AWWA).
• ICS / categories: Classified under AWWA storage/tank standards and cross-referenced in industry bibliographies for steel water-storage tank inspection and repair (listed in AWWA bibliographies and standards indices).
• Edition / version: Original edition 1953; reaffirmation edition referenced as D101-53 (R79) and D101-53 (R86) reflecting reaffirmations in 1979 and 1986.
• Number of pages: Approximately 16 pages (typical scanned/printed edition listings indicate a short-format technical standard of about 16 pages).

Scope

The standard applies to the inspection and repair of existing steel water-storage tanks, standpipes, reservoirs, and elevated tanks used for potable-water storage. It covers the qualifications and duties of inspectors, the inspection process (interior and exterior visual inspection, paint condition, pitting and leakage assessment), documentation and reporting, recommended inspection intervals, and the general requirements and categories of repair work to return structures to serviceable condition prior to repainting or other rehabilitation actions.

Key topics and requirements

• Inspection frequency and triggers (recommendation: full inspection at intervals not exceeding five years and whenever leakage or visible deterioration is observed).
• Qualifications and responsibilities of inspection agencies and personnel.
• Inspection procedures: draining, interior/exterior examination, paint condition assessment, pitting and corrosion evaluation, and documentation.
• Reporting requirements: detailed inspection records, recommended repairs, disposition of reports and acceptance criteria.
• Repair guidance: types of repairs, water‑tightness testing, work to be itemized for bidding, lump-sum vs. extra work terms, and cleanliness standards for repainting or reconditioning.
• Separation of painting specification content into companion document D102 (painting and repainting recommendations were moved/handled in D102 in later revisions).

Typical use and users

This standard (in its historic/reaffirmed form) is used by municipal water-utility engineers, tank owners, consulting engineers, tank inspection firms, rehabilitation and painting contractors, and procurement/specification writers to define minimum inspection practice and to scope repair work for steel water-storage structures. It is also referenced in industry manuals and guidance documents used for condition assessments and renovation planning.

Related standards

Commonly referenced companion and successor documents include AWWA D102 (painting and repainting of steel tanks), AWWA D103 (factory‑coated bolted steel tanks), the AWWA manual M42 (Steel Water‑Storage Tanks) which compiles and updates guidance on inspection and renovation, and more recent AWWA standards or project drafts covering tank evaluation. Note: AWWA has worked on revisions and new editions addressing tank evaluation and inspection in recent years.

Keywords

steel water tanks; standpipes; reservoirs; elevated tanks; inspection; repair; tank rehabilitation; AWWA D101-53; D101-53 (R86); tank painting (D102); condition assessment.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: AWWA D101-53 (commonly cited with reaffirmation as D101-53 (R86)) is an American Water Works Association standard that provided consensus requirements for inspecting and repairing steel water-storage tanks, standpipes, reservoirs and elevated tanks for potable-water storage. It was originally approved in 1953 and later reaffirmed.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers inspection procedures (interior and exterior), qualifications for inspection personnel/agencies, documentation and reporting, recommended inspection intervals (typically not more than five years), categories and methods of repair, water‑tightness considerations, and requirements for preparing structures for repainting or rehabilitation. Painting-specific requirements were later handled in the companion painting specification D102.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Water utility owners and operators, consulting and inspection engineers, tank repair and painting contractors, procurement/specification writers, and public-agency project managers involved in maintenance, renovation, or bidding of tank repair and painting work.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The original D101-53 document has been reaffirmed over the years (notably in 1979 and 1986) and is listed in AWWA product bibliographies as D101-53 (R86). AWWA product listings also indicate the D101-53(R86) entry as withdrawn in their catalog; its guidance has been incorporated into later AWWA manuals and newer standards or draft revisions (for example, material in M42 and subsequent AWWA D101 revision projects). Users should consult current AWWA standards, the AWWA M42 manual, or the AWWA Standards program for the latest approved documents or replacement guidance before specifying inspection/repair work.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — D101 has been issued alongside related AWWA standards for steel tank painting and coating (D102), factory‑coated bolted steel tanks (D103), and other AWWA storage/tank standards. It is commonly referenced within AWWA’s suite of storage-related documents and manuals (for example, the M42 manual includes references to D101-53 (R86) in its bibliography/appendices).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Inspection, repair, steel water tanks, standpipes, reservoirs, elevated tanks, water-storage, condition assessment, AWWA D101-53, D101-53 (R86), tank rehabilitation.