The Rio Oso Tank is back online, the Community Services District announced this week. That's good news for the 700 households in Units 3 and 4, the area above the second Guadalupe Drive on the North. The 1.2-million-gallon tank supplies water for the pressurized system that serves the area.

After workers finished applying a protective coating to the interior of the tank, the refilling process began July 4 and was completed 48 hours later, the CSD said. Water samples were then collected on two consecutive days and tested for bacterialogical and organic compounds. According to the CSD, no compounds were detected and the tank was put back in service late Tuesday afternoon.

The 30-year-old metal tank was taken out of service last fall for rehabilitation work that included replacement of corroded steel beams and other metal parts, seismic improvements and painting.

While the tank was out of service, an alternative means of supplying water was used, and residents in the affected areas were asked to conserve water by watering on alternate days and avoiding heavy use of water during the peak hours of 5 and 10 a.m.

While the work inside the tank is complete, it continues on the outside of the tank where scaffolding has been erected for painting. The anticipated completion date for the project is July 18.

The total cost for the rehabilitation project is more than $1.3 million. This includes development of the offline alternative, contract services for engineering, construction and project oversight, replacement of the roof, beams and other components, seismic improvements and painting. The funding comes from CSD water facilities replacement reserves.