Inspection Techniques for Water Storage Tanks: A Guide

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

In industries where potable water storage tanks are indispensable for drinking, washing, food preparation, and industrial purposes, water tank inspection services are essential.

These storage tanks store and retain purified water produced by filtration systems until it is needed. They come in various designs, sizes, and performance capacities, customized to meet the requirements of different applications. Water storage tanks play a vital role in numerous processes across industrial, commercial, and municipal sectors, highlighting the importance of proper selection, installation, and maintenance.

The Importance of Water Storage Tank Maintenance

A water storage tank is a valuable asset for facilities that invest in one, requiring regular maintenance similar to other critical equipment. Proper maintenance offers several benefits, including:

  • Extended service life: Regularly scheduled tank inspections and maintenance operations allow industry professionals to identify existing damage and potential sources of damage before they become major issues. This proactive approach minimizes the negative impact on the tank’s integrity, thereby prolonging its service life.
  • Enhanced equipment performance: Identifying and addressing problems through regular maintenance activities contribute to improved performance of the entire system.
  • – Improved water quality: Resolving issues in the water storage tank and its associated system helps mitigate the risk of contamination and other adverse effects that could compromise the quality of water stored in potable water tanks.
  • Reduced repair and replacement costs: Early detection of issues such as corrosion or coating delamination helps prevent them from escalating into major problems. Consequently, equipment damage is minimized, resulting in fewer costly repairs and replacements.

Evaluation Methods for Water Storage Tanks

The first step in any maintenance protocol is to inspect the condition of the equipment. Inspections of water storage tanks can be classified as either wet or dry.

Dry inspections, as the name suggests, require draining the tank of water before a licensed specialist can conduct them.

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

Regardless of the approach, inspections typically begin at the tank’s base and move upward to examine the legs, rods, struts, and ladder. Key tank conditions evaluated include steel thickness, paint thickness, and coating adhesion levels.

Keeping Your Water Tank in Top Shape

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) emphasizes the importance of routine inspection and maintenance to ensure both the structural and sanitary integrity of tanks. While the frequency of inspections depends on factors such as location, operating conditions, and equipment type, the AWWA, along with other industrial entities and agencies, provides the following guidelines:

If any of the following signs are observed in the system, cleaning should be conducted:

  • Water tank repairs or upgrades
  • Accumulation of sediment or biological growth (e.g., coliform bacteria)
  • Noticeable changes in water quality

Inspections should occur every one, three, or five years, depending on the intended usage of the tank. These evaluations encompass every aspect of the system, including the condition of the paint. Given that the paint acts as a protective barrier for the steel tank components against corrosion, any imperfections in the painted surface can jeopardize both the steel’s structural integrity and the water quality.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), storage tanks are classified as “confined spaces.” Therefore, only qualified individuals equipped with appropriate protective gear and extraction tools should enter these structures during inspection and maintenance procedures.

Our reputable services extend to various locations, including Crockett, Grapeland, Kennard, Latexo, Lovelady, Ratcliff, and Houston, Texas. Additionally, we offer proven solutions in Long Beach, as well as neighboring cities, towns, suburbs, and localities such as Lakewood, Rossmoor, Lincoln Village, Seal Beach, Hawaiian Gardens, Los Alamitos, Cypress, Bellflower, Carson, La Palma, Paramount, Cerritos, East Compton, West Carson, Compton, Norwalk, Stanton, Westminster, Lomita, Downey, Lynwood, Rolling Hills Estates, and Cudahy, California.

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