CENTREVILLE &045; Acrophobiacs would have a problem working with David Smith and Bo Williams.

The two men make their living refurbishing elevated water tanks for Johnson Tanks of West Memphis, Ark.

Thursday morning, they were high in the air over Centreville, sand-blasting the exterior of the South Centreville Water Association’s 100,000-gallon tank from its narrow catwalk and a hydraulic-lift basket suspended underneath.

Fastened to a single safety line, the 24 year-old Williams briefly climbed around the tower’s 36-inch center pipe, grabbing iron grips and braces to steady himself while he secured a rope to the basket.

Though the tank towers up to 120 feet, Williams sees the work as routine. &uot;It’s just like working on the ground,&uot; he said.

But Smith, a 45 year-old veteran of 20 years in the trade, was quick to qualify his younger partner’s take on the job.

&uot;You do have to be careful and watch what you’re doing,&uot; Smith said.

The crew started work on the tank two weeks ago after completing a job in Kentucky.

So far, they have

finished a clean-up of the tank’s interior, and are now sanding and priming the exterior for a new paint job.

The tank, located on Miss. 33 just south of Centreville, was built in 1992.

The Mississippi Department of Health periodically inspects the condition of water tanks in all jurisdictions within the state.

Tanks are normally reworked every 10 years.

The South Centreville Water Association is buying its water from the Town of Centreville until work on its tank is completed.