The City of Echo, Minnesota, was faced with a major infrastructure decision: whether to repair or pursue a full water tower replacement. Like many small cities in Minnesota, Echo needed a long-term solution for its aging 50-year-old water tower structure.
A Critical Tower Freeze
A culmination of issues caused the water tower to freeze, resulting in the control system failing to signal the city’s Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water valve to stop sending water. Water flowed continuously through the night, coating the tower in ice as it flowed out of the frozen interior.
Water Tower Rehab versus New
Rehabbing the old tower would have been costly and extensive, especially given its age. A cost analysis showed that building a new tower would be more affordable over time. A new tower also gave the City a modern, code-compliant structure with a long lifespan—and a source of community pride
Hydrocone Water Tower Design
Bollig Engineering worked with the City of Echo to design a new water tower to meet the community’s needs. The contractor proposed a hydro cone style—a common choice in rural Minnesota for maintaining steady water pressure. Built in winter 2018, the 124-foot tower includes mixing and recirculation systems to prevent freezing in winter and improve water quality in summer. Communications were also upgraded to a radio system, giving the City wireless monitoring and control.
Communication Upgrades
The old tower used underground wires to connect to the water system, but upgrading to modern standards was challenging. A new control system made it possible to combine drinking water and wastewater controls into one setup, powered by a single source and emergency generator. It also gave the City one alarm system for everything. Using radio signals, staff can now remotely monitor and control water levels, pressure, and flow—providing real-time data without the need for wires.
100% Funded by Grants
Bollig Engineering helps communities navigate the various funding options available to help make large infrastructure projects attainable. The City of Echo was fortunate that this project, which cost over $644,000 to construct, was fully funded through grants in conjunction with a major infrastructure improvement project.
Community Pride
The City of Echo wanted the new tower painted in its historic school colors—a vision Bollig helped bring to life. Today, the community has not only a reliable water source with strong pressure, but also a striking landmark that reflects local pride.
Featured on Water Tower Wednesday
Echo’s new water tower recently caught the attention of KSTP’s Water Tower Wednesday—a weekly spotlight on unique towers across Minnesota. Watch the video below for the Water Tower Wednesday segment featuring the City of Echo!
Looking Ahead
Echo was able to take action at the right time—just as their aging water tower needed major upgrades to meet current standards. Bollig helped guide the City through a thoughtful decision-making process, ultimately leading to a long-term solution that made the most sense for the community. With the right team of funding specialists, planners, and engineers, Echo now has a modern, code-compliant water tower replacement that will serve the city for decades to come—an excellent example of how small Minnesota cities can plan ahead and invest wisely in infrastructure.
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