The Lanphor Reservoir, originally constructed in the early 1900s, holds nearly 130 million gallons of drinking water for the City of Pittsburgh. The reservoir basin presents a significant restoration challenge: its 30-degree pitched concrete surfaces require specialized application techniques that are not feasible with conventional poured-in-place concrete methods. The City of Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority selected Graciano Corporation for the project based on the firm's deep experience in structural concrete and masonry restoration.
The primary challenge was completing all concrete repairs, resurfacing, and liner preparation within a compressed three-week window -- an aggressive schedule driven by the need to return the reservoir to service. Graciano met that deadline.
"They filled all the voids so the integrity of the surface would not compromise the liner and I believe it was the fastest expedition of a project I have ever seen."-- Mark Mellott, Project Engineer, Chester Engineers
Scope of Work
Services Performed
- Wet and dry shotcrete application
- Water control injections
- High-pressure washing
- Partial depth concrete repair
- Full depth concrete repair
- Epoxy injection
Shotcrete on a 30-Degree Pitch
The curved, steeply pitched basin walls of the Lanphor Reservoir made shotcrete the appropriate choice for resurfacing. Graciano applied wet mix mortar shotcrete at high pressure (100-90 PSI) using pneumatic equipment -- the economical alternative to poured-in-place concrete for curved structures. The method allowed the team to repair surface cracks and spalls, fill voids, and achieve a consistent surface finish across the pitched basin without the formwork that conventional concrete would require.
Concrete Repair and Liner Preparation
Before shotcrete application, Graciano crews performed partial and full depth concrete repairs to address areas of deterioration throughout the basin. Epoxy injection was used to stabilize cracks in the substrate. Water control injections stopped active infiltration. The completed surface was prepared to receive the reservoir liner -- with all voids filled and the substrate made sound, ensuring the liner installation could proceed without risk of compromising the drinking water system.
About Graciano Corporation
Founded in 1916, Graciano Corporation is one of the oldest and most experienced masonry and concrete restoration firms in the United States. With offices in Pittsburgh, PA, New York, NY, and Florida, Graciano has completed infrastructure and water-system restoration projects for public agencies across the region. The company is a WBENC-certified Woman Business Enterprise performing approximately 90% of all work in-house with its own skilled craftsmen.