D.C.’s first new water tower in more than seven decades was raised 170 feet in the air on Wednesday.

“This is a historical piece—to actually see one go up is a once in a lifetime thing,” said Tijuana Haynes, a community outreach specialist for DC Water, at the construction site in Congress Heights.

The new amenity should directly affect Ward 8 residents, who have historically experienced low water pressure. They will be able to tell the difference when they’re doing everyday activities like taking showers and using the kitchen sink to prepare meals, said DC Water spokesperson Vincent Morris.

With developments like the Wizards practice facility underway at the nearby St. Elizabeth campus, the tower could also encourage more economic development east of the Anacostia River, Morris said. “This will help ensure there’s never a doubt that businesses like restaurants, grocery stores, and gyms will have ample water pressure.”

The tank, which will hold 2 million gallons of water, will also create more powerful fire hydrants, Morris added.

The last time DC Water built a water tower in the city was 1945, and officials have been planning for the new $14 million tower for 10 years.

In 2008, the agency built a new pumping station, which is one piece of what it takes to create an entirely new water service zone. After years of permitting delays, DC Water announced the beginning of construction in August 2016.

Like the tower’s planning phase, watching the tank rise up the tower on Wednesday morning was a slow process. Construction crews and DC Water officials stood in hard hats and safety jackets during the two-hour viewing in which strong cables pulled the tank in 12-inch intervals to the top of the pedestal. After reaching its designated height, construction crews at the top of the tower worked to secure the tank in place.

Crews will work over the next several months to install floor and roof panels, piping, and sewer lines. The tower is slated to be operational by the spring of 2018.