A Comprehensive Guide to Inspection Methods

Water tank inspection services are crucial for maintaining the cleanliness and safety of your potable water storage tanks, thereby reducing risks to your employees, processes, and equipment.

In industries reliant on potable water storage tanks for drinking, washing, food preparation, and industrial operations, water tank inspection services are indispensable.

These tanks store and retain purified water produced by filtration systems until it’s needed. They are available in various designs, sizes, and capacities tailored to different applications. Water storage tanks are integral to numerous processes in industrial, commercial, and municipal sectors, emphasizing the significance of correct selection, installation, and maintenance.

Why is Water Storage Tank Maintenance Important?

Investing in a water storage tank is akin to investing in other critical equipment, necessitating regular maintenance for optimal performance.

Regular maintenance offers several benefits, including:

  • Extended service life: Scheduled tank inspections and maintenance enable professionals to detect existing damage and potential sources of deterioration before they become significant issues. This proactive approach minimizes the negative impact on the tank’s integrity, thus prolonging its service life.
  • Enhanced equipment performance: Identifying and addressing issues through regular maintenance activities contribute to improved overall system performance.
  • Improved water quality: Resolving issues in the water storage tank and its associated system helps mitigate the risk of contamination and other factors that may compromise water quality.
  • Reduced repair and replacement costs: Early detection of issues such as corrosion or coating delamination helps prevent them from developing into major problems. Consequently, equipment damage is minimized, resulting in fewer costly repairs and replacements.

Water Storage Tank Inspection Techniques

The initial step in any maintenance procedure involves examining the equipment’s condition. Inspections of water storage tanks can be classified as either wet or dry.

Dry inspections, as their name implies, require draining the tank of water before they can be carried out by a licensed specialist.

In contrast, wet inspections are conducted without draining the tank. Depending on the tank’s design, either a disinfected diver or a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) is employed to enter the structure and identify potential issues. If significant problems are detected, such as peeling paint or thinning steel, the tank must be taken out of service for repairs.

Regardless of the method used, inspections typically begin at the tank’s bottom and progress upwards to examine the legs, rods, struts, and ladder. Key tank conditions to evaluate include steel thickness, paint thickness, and coating adhesion levels.

Maintenance Requirements for Water Storage Tanks

To maintain both structural integrity and sanitary standards, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) recommends regular inspection and maintenance of tanks. The frequency of inspections can vary depending on factors such as location, operating conditions, and the type of equipment. The organization, in conjunction with other industrial entities and agencies, provides the following guidelines:

Inspections should be conducted every one, three, or five years, depending on the tank’s purpose. These inspections involve assessing every component of the system, including the paint. Since paint acts as a protective layer for steel tank components against corrosion, any imperfections in the painted surface can jeopardize both the steel’s structural integrity and the quality of the water.

If the system displays any of the following signs, cleaning should be undertaken:

  • Repairs or upgrades to the water tank
  • Accumulation of sediment or growth of biological organisms (e.g., coliform bacteria)
  • Observable changes in water quality

Storage tanks fall under the category of “confined spaces” according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Therefore, only qualified individuals equipped with appropriate protective gear and extraction equipment should enter these structures for inspection and maintenance purposes.

We provide reliable services in Crockett, Grapeland, Kennard, Latexo, Lovelady, Ratcliff, HOUSTON, TEXAS.

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