I just came across this video on my computer and thought I would post it again. Our potable water dive team usually deploys to clean water storage tanks and towers. Occasionally we have a customer who wants a diver inspection. Diver inspection offers more detail than a remote underwater video camera or a Remotely Operated Video (ROV) inspection. The diver can look at specific areas and has the ability to evaluate more if not all of the tank. All of our equipment is purchased for and only used in potable water. We start off by spraying the diver down with a 200ppm chlorine solution just before he enters the tank. Take a look at this quick video and let us know what you think.
potable water Dive Team inspecting north central Texas tank. (c)2021 Ron Perrin
Thanks for taking a look at our video.
Since 1997 Ron Perrin Water Technologies, Inc. has been inspecting and cleaning water storage tanks and towers and we all love what we do.
Every time we clean the sediment out of a potable water storage tank we improve the water quality for that community
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One of the most important things a water utility can do is an annual water tank inspection on all potable water storage tanks in the system including both ground and elevated storage. Without proper inspections, the tanks often go out-of-sight and out-of-mind. Inspection should include all AWWA inspection points and a good look at the interior. The traditional way to do this is to remove the tank from service and drain the water. This is extremely labor intensive and often requires smaller communities to be without water for an extended period of time.
Custom water tank underwater inspection camera and lighting system.
Water tank inspection contractors often use a remote underwater camera, a remotely operated underwater vehicle, or a commercial diver to perform this task. Following AWWA guidelines all equipment is washed down with a 200ppm chlorine solution before entering the water system. Once inside the underwater cameras can get a good look at corrosion and sediment that may be hidden underwater. Using an inspection contractor allows the treated drinking water to stay in the tank and any disruption is reduced to a bare minimum.
In Texas, all potable water storage tanks are required to be inspected inside and out. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), mandates that under Texas Administrative code 290.46 water utilities in Texas are required to perform an annual inspection of each storage facility in their system with a utility employee or a contracted inspection service. The basic inspection form can be found here: TCEQ Tank Inspection Form.
On the form under WATER QUALITY,” the form asks if there are Insects, floating debris, or sediment on the bottom of the tank. While you may be able to see the bottom on smaller tanks, the majority would need to be drained or deploy some type of underwater camera to get a good look at the floor. Inspection contractors like Ron Perrin Water Technologies, Inc. offer some innovative tools to get inspections done with no disruption in service at all. From remotely controlled underwater cameras that can get a good look to see what is on the floor of the tank, to Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) that are able to swim to the back of a larger facility so no part of the tank has been unchecked. All of our reports include photos of every inspection point and interior photos and video. With our specially designed camera and lighting system, we are able to get a good look at the interior roof. This is a key inspection point and often has the most corrosion that we find on the facility. Our underwater camera is lowered into the tank taking a look at what is going on just under the waterline and lower wall areas. Finally, the floor comes into view and we are able to estimate sediment levels in the tank. Larger facilities often need to use the ROV to reach the back side of the tank or look at a specific area thought to have a problem.
Ron and Robert Perrin holding a DEEP TREKKER Remotely Operated Vehicle at the U.S. Coast Guard Facility on Galveston Island.
It is extremely important to monitor sediment levels in water storage tanks. Sediment can be a breeding ground for bacteria, protozoa, and even viruses. When our inspection discovers sediment is starting to build up we can document what is going on with underwater photos and video. We then include a proposal to send our potable water dive team back to remove the sediment. This can also be done with minimal water loss and no disruption in service.
Sediment is being removed from a small ground tank by a potable water diver working inside the tank.
Ron Perrin Water Technologies, Inc. has been serving the needs of water utilities since 1997. We are here to help. Give us a call for a free inspection or cleaning proposal. Our toll-free # is 1-888-481-1768; Or our local number at 817-377-4899; or email Robert at perrinsales@gmail.com.
Our potable water dive crew is one of the best ways to keep your water storage tanks clean and healthy. The diver is sealed in his own environment and washed down with a chlorine solution to meet USEPA and state water quality standards. The diver is then able to move about the tank freely allowing him to do an inspection, clean the floor or perform other needed tasks. Check out our Facebook page to see a video of this tank being cleaned https://www.facebook.com/ronperrinwatertech.
Since 1997 we have been inspecting and cleaning water storage tanks and towers. Our methods and procedures save millions of gallons of treated drinking water every month by allowing tanks to be inspected and cleaned while they remain in service.
Custom-built underwater camera and lighting system
Our custom-built underwater camera and lighting system is one of the best values in the industry allowing tanks to be inspected inside and out with no human entry. This saves water utilities time and money while delivering an informative inspection report that exceeds state documentation standards. An annual inspection that covers the interior of the tank all the way down to the sediment levels is one of the best ways to keep up with the health of your water system. For larger tanks, we also have several Remotely Controlled Vehicles (ROVs) that we can deploy when needed. The ROV is also equipped with an underwater lighting system that has the added benefit of being able to navigate to the rear of a large tank or look at specific areas you may want to document. You can see a short video of our ROV service here: https://youtu.be/21z5nbx2-R8. If your ground or elevated storage tanks need to be cleaned our potable water dive crew is a great way to get that done with no disruption in service and minimal water loss. If you have a standpipe with a water depth deeper than 50 feet we recommend WALLIE.
Wallie is what we call our standpipe cleaning robot. Capable of working at depths of 165 feet Wallie can stay down as long as it takes to get the job done right. He is equipped with two video cameras and a lighting system to allow the operator to see what he is doing. This also allows us to record the cleaning and document the final result for our customers. You can see Wallie in action here: https://youtu.be/7bFqEW_x_fo. If you have a water storage tank please give us a call to get a free inspection or cleaning quote. Our toll-free number is: 1-888-481-1768, in the DFW area call: 817-377-4899 or e-mail Robert at perrinsales@gmail.com.
I have been a Water Tank Inspection Contractor for over 30 years. Starting in 1991, my first inspections were done on my days off while still working as a full-time Texas Peace Officer. I was a principal at Tank Diver Inspections (TDI) a startup company that failed. Form 1994 to 96 I was director of marketing at U.S. Underwater Services in 96 I was promoted to Director of Operations. In 1997 I established Ron Perrin Water Technologies and devoted myself to developing the best methods to inspect and clean potable water storage tanks with NO DISRUPTION in water service. We incorporated in 2020. We offer the best inspection in the industry. We are here to serve you! We offer three different water storage tanks inspections, all include underwater documentation with our underwater video cameras and lighting systems.
water tank inspection camera
Robert Perrin,SSH
Ron Perrin Everman PD.
Our Company provides nondisruptive water tank inspections on potable water storage tanks in Texas and 14 other states. In Texas, our tank inspections meet all requirements found under Texas Administrative code 290.46 (m)(1) -Each of the system’s ground, elevated, and pressure tanks shall be inspected annually by water system personnel or contracted inspection service. We want to be your Contracted Inspection Service.
In Texas you must examine your ground, elevated, and pressure storage tanks at least once every year to make sure they are in good working condition. Tanks should be inspected no later than one year after the last time you checked them.
Ground and elevated tanks are required to be inspected inside and out every year. Pressure tanks also need to be inspected on the outside every year and if they have an inspection port they are required to have the interior inspected once every five years. The grounds and facilities shall be maintained in a manner so as to minimize the possibility of the harboring of rodents, insects, and other disease vectors, and in such a way as to prevent other conditions that might cause the contamination of the water. (1) Each of the system’s ground, elevated, and pressure tanks shall be inspected annually by water system personnel or contracted inspection service. (A) Ground and elevated storage tank inspections must determine that the vents are in place and properly screened, the roof hatches closed and locked, flap valves and gaskets provide adequate protection against insects, rodents, and other vermin, the interior and exterior coating systems are continuing to provide adequate protection to all metal surfaces, and the tank remains in a watertight condition.
It is extremely important these facilities be properly inspected, we recently inspected a ground storage tank that had a damaged vent screen, inside on the floor of the tank we found two dead rats. Not what you want in a water tank that you are drinking out of. Birds and insects are much more common, it there is a hole in the vent screen that you can put your finger in you can bet there are insects in the tank. It the hole is big enough to put your fist in there is a good chance you will find a dead bird. On a hot day, the animals can smell the water if there is a way for them to get it they will. Like a big lobster trap they can get in but they can’t get out. Let’s take a look at your tanks!
We have several inspections to choose from:
Remote Underwater Video – This is is our most popular and economical inspection. We document all State required inspection points. Our report is delivered in a notebook with photographs of inspection points and an underwater video that covers the interior roof, water surface, waterline and underwater areas visible from our remote underwater camera and lighting system.
Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)- Covers everything above with additional underwater video taken from one of our ROV’s. This allows you to get a more detailed inspection for much larger facilities. It also allows a customer to get great documentation on specific areas if needed.
Diver Inspection– Our potable water dive crew is usually reserved to clean water storage tanks and towers. The divers are sealed in their own environment using a DRY SUIT. No part of the divers body touches the water in addition, to meet state and federal requirements divers are washed down with a 200ppm chlorine solution. Divers are able to get an even more detailed inspection.
Tank Cleaning and Inspection– All of our inspections include an underwater video of tank floors. This allows us to get a good estimate of accumulated sediment. It is important to know how much sediment is in the tank. Sediment on the floor of the tank that can be a safe habitat for bacteria, protozoa and even viruses. Our cleaning service removes all loose sediment. After the sediment is removed we are able to see the floor of the tank allowing us to document the condition of the paint and see corroded areas if any. When is the last time your tanks were cleaned?
If you are task with inspecting your own tank we can help with that too. I teach a course at the Environmental Training Institute (ETI) located at the UT Arlington Division for Enterprise Development. The class is 16 hours over two days and has class dates scheduled in 2021 and 2022.
Tankdiver.us 