New Bedford’s Iconic Red-and-White Water Tower Gets Its First Major Overhaul in Decades

It's been a while since the iconic red-and-white checkered water tower on Hathaway Road in New Bedford got a major makeover. It's happening now.

A Crucial Beacon for I-195 Travelers

For years, the 112-foot water tower has served as a beacon for New Bedford residents making their way east on Interstate 195 as a sign that they were almost home. For visitors to Cape Cod on I-195, the water tower has no doubt served as a marker in their journey as well.

This is the first major maintenance project on the water tower in decades. It was last painted in the year 2000.

Iconic Massachusetts Water Tower In New Bedford Gets First Major Maintenance In 25 Years

Inside the $900,000 Maintenance Project

The water tower, constructed in 1948, has been fully drained so that necessary maintenance can be performed and a fresh coat of paint applied. The work should take about 12 weeks to complete.

Department of Public Infrastructure Commissioner Jamie Ponte said the repainting includes "preps, coatings (interior and exterior)." Ponte said the tower maintenance involves "structural upgrades and repairs, and two years of subsequent inspection."

The roughly $900,000 contract was awarded to the Pennsylvania-based Utility Services Group.

Ward 3 City Councilor Shawn Oliver, whose district hosts the tower, said, "The work being completed here is expected to extend the life of the tower for at least another decade, and potentially as long as 20 years."

"Ten years, for sure," Ponte said. "I think the last time it was addressed to this magnitude was about 25 years ago."

"It could likely go longer if need be," he said.

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"Eventually, the tower will have to be replaced to increase water pressure and capacity within our high service area," Oliver said. "However, this project gives the city the time necessary to complete its critical upgrades before considering that larger investment."

Iconic Massachusetts Water Tower In New Bedford Gets First Major Maintenance In 25 Years

Much to my surprise, the water tower does more than just store water. It's a complex system that provides water pressure to residents in "higher ground elevations in the city," the DPI told me in a 2022 history of the tower.

The water tower is shrouded in tarps while the maintenance work is performed.

Will the Iconic Checkered Look Stay?

Because of its proximity to the New Bedford Regional Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration requires the tower to be painted in a red-and-white checkered pattern, so do not expect a color change once the tarps are removed.

"We just got lucky that it's the city's colors," Oliver said.