UPDATE: Germantown 'Earthoid' Water Tower

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) commissioners have approved a contract that calls for the same worldly design for a Germantown Water Tank.

The 33-year old, two-million gallon, water storage tank in Germantown will be repainted as a replica of the earth. The water tank is situated on Observation Drive of the Germantown Campus of Montgomery College.

The contract to repair and repaint the tanks interior and exterior is not to exceed $857,200.  The winning bid went to Horizon Brothers Painting, Inc - located in Howell, Michigan - who estimates it will cost $120,000 for the world mural.

WSSC asked bidders to provide cost estimates for two designs – a replica of the original globe and a baseball design. Montgomery College officials reported that they preferred the “globe” design over the baseball concept due partly to their new campus building, Globe Hall, which is slated to open in 2013.

Commissioner Gene Counihan of Montgomery County said, “The Earthoid has become quite a symbol for the community as well as Montgomery College.  It is one of the most significant landmarks in Montgomery County.”

The tank was heralded as a landmark project in water storage when it was built in 1978 for its size, shape, and paint scheme, according the WSSC officials.

It won the "Steel Tank of the Year" award in 1980 from the Steel Plate Fabricators Association and pictures of the tank have been exhibited in numerous magazines. The 100-foot tall tank was first painted to resemble the world in 1980. Peter Freudenberg led the team of four painters after creating a scale model based on a National Geographic globe.