Toppling the Tank

October 21, 2025

In the shadow of O’Hare International Airport, where jets roar overhead and industrial traffic never sleeps, NDA member Alpine Demolition Services LLC orchestrated the dismantling of a towering steel sentinel: the 121-foot-tall, 500,000-gallon elevated water tank on Pratt Boulevard in Elk Grove Village, Illinois.

The tank had reached the end of its service life. It stood in a tight corner of the industrial park — hemmed in by power lines, a single narrow access road and the looming presence of some of the country’s busiest airspace. A new water tower had already gone up elsewhere. It was Alpine’s job to make the old one disappear safely, efficiently and with the kind of precision you only earn through experience.

And experience was exactly what got Alpine the job.

Earning the Work

The Village of Elk Grove’s bid process wasn’t for the untested. Only contractors with at least four similar public projects — and references to back them — were allowed to submit proposals. Of the six firms that attended the mandatory pre-bid meeting, just two met the bar.

Alpine has completed over 30 elevated tank removals has a flawless safety record and a reputation for smart logistics. Also, the company’s bid was 5% lower than its only competition and well under the engineer’s estimate.

High Stakes at High Altitude

At first glance, the job might seem straightforward: remove a water tank. But in the field, few demolitions are ever simple.

This one was wedged between live electrical lines on two sides, a single narrow drive offering access to one corner and a soft grass field surrounding the rest. When it rained, that field turned to muck, cutting off access to staging areas and heavy equipment. The tank’s towering height also placed it in O’Hare’s flight path, requiring coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) just to get a crane in the air.

And yet, Alpine turned obstacles into opportunities.

The company began with a solid logistics plan, mapping out every move, from where the crane would sit to how debris would be processed and recycled. Grade mats stabilized the crane pad. Visqueen and plywood shielded the ground from paint chips. Every underground utility was located and marked before the first cut. ComEd was brought in early to de-energize and shield nearby power lines.

With a 135-foot manlift and a high-reach crane, Alpine executed a top-down dismantle. The crew — five people in total, including a foreman, operator and three laborers — used a Cat 330 equipped with shear, grapple and hammer attachments to cut and process the steel. Sections of the tank were cut loose from the top using torches and methodically lowered by crane. The team ensured structural integrity was maintained at the end of every shift.

Built-In Sustainability

From day one, Alpine’s mentality was that if it could be reused or recycled, it would be.

The project generated zero waste. All steel and concrete were recycled. The stone base from the temporary access road was reused on-site for backfill, eliminating the need for additional trucking. Fewer hauls meant reduced emissions and lower costs.

The dust was kept in check with a water hose connected to a hydrant. Where there was lead paint (as with most older tanks), Alpine followed strict containment procedures. Workers donned full personal protective equipment, and the site was protected with layers of Visqueen to catch paint flakes and debris.

Ahead of Schedule and Under Budget

Despite delays from spring thunderstorms, Alpine finished the tank removal in just two weeks. Two more weeks of cleanup and site restoration followed — concrete removal, backfill, grading and seeding — delivered without a hitch. The result was a pristine lot, ready for redevelopment in one of the region’s most valuable industrial corridors.

Alpine Demolition Services LLC was a Category 1 finalist for the NDA 2025 Excellence in Demolition Awards for this project.