Do you still need a reason to clean your water storage tanks

March 27, 2020 by Ron Perrin

Tank Sediment Removal

Sediment Removal

Diver Sediment Removal

Sediment on the floor of your water storage tank is a Breach in your system. The more sediment you have in your water storage tanks the bigger your risk for having a water-related contaminant issue. Tank sediment builds up over time and can provide a wide range of contaminants including viruses a way to get a foothold in your water system. The tank sediment can provide a safe habitat allowing a small number of bacteria or viruses to quickly grow into the billions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a guidance and fact sheet on transmission of the novel coronavirus in water.

THE GOOD: The agency stated: “Conventional water treatment methods that use filtration and disinfection, such as those in most municipal drinking water systems, should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.”

THE BAD: The fact is other viruses are found in drinking water, in fact you will find them in the top ten contaminants. Including Hepatitis A, a vaccine-preventable, communicable disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), and Norovirus. A very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Conventional water treatment methods should also prevent these viruses from contaminating drinking water systems but they remain in the top ten of drinking water-related contaminants.

Here is the top ten list of Water-related Diseases and Contaminants the CDC found in in Public Water Systems.

The United States has one of the safest public drinking water supplies in the world. Over 286 million Americans get their tap water from a community water system (1). The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates drinking water quality in public water systems and sets maximum concentration levels for water chemicals and pollutants.

Sources of drinking water are subject to contamination and require appropriate treatment to remove disease-causing contaminants. Contamination of drinking water supplies can occur in the source water as well as in the distribution system after water treatment has already occurred. There are many sources of water contamination, including naturally occurring chemicals and minerals (for example, arsenic, radon, uranium), local land use practices (fertilizers, pesticides, concentrated feeding operations), manufacturing processes, and sewer overflows or wastewater releases.

The presence of contaminants in water can lead to adverse health effects, including gastrointestinal illness, reproductive problems, and neurological disorders. Infants, young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people whose immune systems are compromised because of AIDS, chemotherapy, or transplant medications, may be especially susceptible to illness from some contaminants.

Top 10 Causes – Outbreaks in Public Water Systems*
Giardia
Legionella
Norovirus
Shigella
Campylobacter
Copper
Salmonella
Hepatitis A
Cryptosporidium
E. coli, excess fluoride (tie)

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Source: CDC https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/public/water_diseases.html

Why Isn’t ChlorineTreatment Enough?

Featured by Ron Perrin

I had some water utility workers ask me, “Why isn’t chlorine treatment of potable water enough to keep water safe? Why should we worry about cleaning tanks when we already use chlorine?”

Chlorine works great as long as there is not a breach in the tank. When there is a breach like a hole in the top that lets birds and insects inside the tank, the chlorine can not keep up. This is why annual tank inspections are so important. People have died from this scenario, see: “Salmonella Outbreak in Alamosa, Colorado“. According to USEPA officials a sediment build up on the interior floor of a water storage tank is another type of breach. Bacteria like Legionella, protozoa like Cryptosporidium, and a wide range of viruses including Norovirus can hide and GROW in the tank sediment.

Do you know what the #1 cause of municipal water contamination is? According to the CDC it is a microscopic parasite called Giardia. The sediment becomes a perfect habitat providing both shelter and food for Giardia and many other microorganisms to grow. In time, the contaminants can reach a point where they overwhelm chlorine or any other disinfectant you may be using. Keeping tanks clean keeps your drinking water safe.

Giardia- Photo CDC website

Top 10 Causes – Outbreaks in Public Water Systems*

For a complete listing of water-related surveillance data, see CDC’s Surveillance Reports for Drinking Water-associated Disease & Outbreaks.

A professional potable water Dive Crew can remove tank sediment along with everything that is growing in it with minimal water loss. The diver is sealed in a DRY suit so there is no human contact with the water supply. He can then enter the tank and make quick work of removing tank sediment and any contaminant that may be hiding in it. Give us a call toll free at 1-888-481-1768 for a free quote.

For more information on Municipal Water Tank Cleaning see: Ron Perrin Water Technologies web Site: www.rpwt.us.

Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

Cleaning Water Storage is Important

August 30, 2019 by Ron Perrin

This Is Why We Clean Tanks.

Top 10 Causes of Contamination Outbreaks in Public Water Systems according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Giardia
Legionella
Norovirus
Shigella
Campylobacter
Copper
Salmonella
Hepatitis
Cryptosporidium
E. coli, excess fluoride (tie)

Bacteria, protozoa, invertebrates and viruses all love heat. The last few years we have continued to see record-breaking heat waves again and again. Keeping water distribution tanks clean should become more of a priority. Several of the top ten water system contaminants listed by the CDC can use the soft sediment that builds up on the floor of water storage tanks as a habitat to grow and become a public health problem. Removing sediment removes the habitat that contaminants can use for food and shelter allowing rapid growth. Keep your tanks clean with potable water diving services from Ron Perrin Water Technologies call 817-377-4899.

Out-of-sight and out-of-mind, sediment in a water storage tank can hide a wide range of contaminants. Keeping the tanks clean will help you maintain a safe water system and meet water quality standards. Take a quick look at what we keep out of your water storage tank by removing accumulated sediment. All potable water storage tanks should be on a cleaning schedule, is yours? You do not want to drink these guys! www.rpwt.us

Giardia – Photo CDC Website

Cryptosporidium

Legenella CDC-illustration.jpg Legionella – Illustration from CDC website.

Give us a call at 817-377-4899 for in-service water tank inspection or cleaning services.

Ron Perrin Water Technologies – see more at our web site: www.rpwt.us

DEEP TREKKER ROV – First Test Run June 2013

Featured by Ron Perrin

UPDATE JULY 1, 2020.

In 2013 We Purchased a DEEP TREKKER ROV to use inspecting potable water storage tanks and towers. I am happy to report it is still working and doing a great job in 2020.
This video shows our first “Test Flight” in a clear-well and the second inspection we did on a ground storage tank. We added a safety rope to protect the tether and found the lighting system caused a little bit of glare when we went into darker parts of the tank, but it was reduced when we got closer to the inspection points we needed to look at. Overall, we found it to be a very good inspection tool!

: DEEP TREKKER First Flight

: DEEP TREKKER ROV

: Cameron Acker ROV Pilot

: DEEP TREKKER ROV

: Ron Perrin Water Technologies

: http://www.ronperrin.com

To learn more about what may be in potable water tanks and towers visit:

“THE CLEAN WATER TANK PROJECT”

For more information on RON PERRIN WATER TECHNOLOGIES click here or visit www.ronperrin.com

Do you need a Potable water tank or tower inspected?

Our inspection methods offer the most information for the least cost, all of our inspection methods include an underwater DVD allowing you to see what is in your storage tanks. Remote video camera, ROV or potable water diver we have a method for every budget.

Call us toll free at 888-481-1768 or simply fill out the form below:

Have your potable water storage tanks been cleaned lately ?

March 19, 2008 by Ron Perrin

Sediment being removed from a potable water storage tank

Photo: Sediment being removed from Potable Water Storage Tank.

The American Water Works Association recommends that tanks be cleaned at least every three years. Recent focus on pharmaceuticals in water systems have made more people than ever aware of contaminates that may be lurking in their water supply. Although pharmaceuticals in drinking water may be in the news the real threat is random bacteria and cryptosporidium spores.

The Threat of Bacteria-

Countless kinds of bacteria can make their way into a public water supply. Chlorine and other treatment methods are our first line of defense. When potable water storage tanks are clean small amounts of bacteria that survive the treatment process cycle through the system undetected and harmless due to the small quantity. Sediment in the tank can capture and harbor these small amounts of bacteria. The bacteria can start to grow hidden from chlorine deep in the sediment. Chlorine can even be overwhelmed and depleted if a nitrate eating bacteria is collected. As the bacteria continues to grow in the sediment month after month and year after year the threat to public health grows.

The Threat of Cryptosporidium

The threat of cryptosporidium outbreak is even greater with sediment in the floor of a water storage tank. Again Sediment can harbor bacteria, cryptosporidium and other contaminates. The best defense to insure a protozoa like cryptosporidium will not take up residence in your water storage system may be to keep the tanks free of sediment. In the Spring of 1993 over 100 people died as a result of a cryptosporidium outbreak that was directly associated with the Howard Avenue Water Purification Plant. This was the largest water born disease ever documented in United States history. It is estimated that over 400,000 people became ill with diarrhea.

Due to the fact that cryptosporidium is a protozoa parasite with a thick outer shell it is highly resistant to disinfectants such as chlorine. The best defense to ensure it will not inhabit your water system may be to make sure your water tanks remain sediment free. This will remove and habitat that small amounts bacteria or protozoa could lodge and grow in, Preventing possible public health problem in the most simple way. Keeping water storage tanks clean.