OC’s ‘Beach Ball’ Water Tower Paint Job Underway

OCEAN CITY — Work has begun on the welcoming “beach ball” paint scheme on the town’s new water tower at 1st Street, but the question now is whether anyone entering the resort from the Route 50 Bridge will be able to see it in the future.

The new water tower at 1st Street rose steadily from the downtown landscape through much of the winter and early spring and its construction came in ahead of schedule in March. The plan is once the new tower is operational, the town’s existing water towers at Worcester Street and 15th Street will be removed, improving efficiency and minimizing the future cost of maintenance.

With the structure completed, crews last week began the process of painting the new water tower, which heretofore has been a dull gray beacon lurking over the downtown landscape. When it’s completed, the new water tower will be adorned with a somewhat unique “beach ball” paint scheme welcoming visitors along one of the main entrances to the resort.

Last year, the Mayor and Council approved the beach ball design after learning it would cost just about $10,000 more than the traditional pale blue scheme seen on most of the resort’s water towers. Public Works Director Hal Adkins said the paint job began last week and continues this week with crews working on both the interior and exterior.

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