Diving into Drinking Water

We had another great day Diving.

Our thing is to inspect and clean potable water tanks (Drinking Water). We use underwater cameras to make quick work out of tank and tower inspections. If the tank has sediment in the interior floor our potable water dive crew suits up in a dry suit and commercial dive hat so no part of the diver’s body touches the water supply. They are then washed down with a 200ppm chlorine solution to meet EPA standards for diving into potable water.

Over time sediment builds up in most water storage tanks, sediment may be a safe habitat for bacteria, protozoa, and even viruses. Keeping tanks clean and free of sediment is one of the most effective ways to keep water safe to drink. If your system would like a free quote give us a call at 817-377-4899.

A Sad note of a passing of a commercial diving legend,

The photos above show our potable water diver, diving with our Gorski G2000SS in 2020. The G2000SS was the first model created and sold by Les Gorski. We had a sad note today about the passing of Les Gorski. Les died on June 2, 2021, he was 68. Les Gorski, or actually Leszek Górski, was born in Łódź in 1953. Before he joined the army and got involved in diving for good, he first graduated from the Faculty of Electronics. After being called up to the army, he went to the coast, where his diving history began. Between 1984 and 2003, the Les Gorski helmet underwent many design modifications. From a handmade and unique specimen to a fully finished helmet. And it happened. In 2004, the G2000SS diving helmet underwent many tests and then went into production. The dream he sowed in communist Poland in the early .80s was realized over 20 years later in the USA.

In March 2011, Gorski’s company was bought out by Aqua Lung and the helmet became a key product in the new owner’s range. Without a doubt, the interest and determination of the American company shows just how good a product the G2000SS has proven to be. In parallel, Les Gorski joined the Aqua Lung team where he continued to develop his own diving helmet.

Meet Wallie Our Standpipe Cleaning Robot

Featured by Ron Perrin

“Wallie” is our DT640 VAC Deep Trekker Crawler Robot that we have purchased to clean standpipes. Standpipes typically have deeper water than other potable water storage tanks, with water depth often over 100 feet. Wallie can operate safely in water up to 168 feet deep. This will be a big asset to water utilities that do not want to take their standpipe out of service to remove the sediment from the floor of the tank.

It is important to keep potable water storage tanks and towers clean. Sediment builds up over time. A layer of sediment in your water storage tank or tower may allow bacteria, protozoa, viruses or other organisms to get a foothold in your water storage tank, grow, and become a community health problem.

Keeping your tank clean will also save you money! Our customers report that they use less chlorine to meet water quality standards after we clean their storage facility.

Since 1997, Ron Perrin Water Technologies, Inc. has been a leader in underwater inspections and tank cleanings. We offer a wider range of inspection and cleaning choices depending on your needs. Our underwater inspections may be performed with a Remote Underwater Video Camera, Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), or for the most detail, we also offer a Diver Inspection. We have a Small Tank Cleaning Service for tanks from 1,000 to 10,000 gallons, Robot Cleaning for Standpipes and our Potable Water Dive Crew is a good fit for most other facilities. Call today for a free quote: 1-888-481-1768.

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

We Clean Water Storage Tanks

May 14, 2019 by Ron Perrin

Since 1997 Ron Perrin Water Technologies has been cleaning water storage tanks and towers. If you are a water utility official please call us for a free quote today,

817-377-4899.

Got UGLY TANK?

April 23, 2019 by Ron Perrin

Concrete Tank Cleaning. We now offer pressure washing service for ground tanks. Please give us a call for a free quote.
817-377-4899.

https://youtu.be/2IItCFBb9PY

High Pressure Wash with Certified Lift Operator

Assessment and Corrective Action required under RTCR

Featured by Ron Perrin

Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR) requires assessment and corrective action when there are indications of coliform contamination. Lets talk about Assessment and Corrective action.

Under the RTCR, there is no longer a monthly maximum contaminant level (MCL) violation for multiple total coliform detections. New revisions require systems that have indicators of coliform contamination in the distribution system to assess the problem and take corrective action that may reduce cases of illnesses and deaths due to potential fecal contamination and waterborne pathogen exposure. The rule says “The Distribution System” of course, what that means is, “The Water Utility Manager or Operator” is now required to assess the problem and take corrective action when there are indications of coliform contamination.

Getting started assessing the problem:

A tank inspection may be the best place to start with the assessment. Is the vent screen in place? Are there birds or insects in the tank? There are at least 12 steps to a water tank inspection and at least one of them should be to get a look inside the facility to see if there is sediment on the floor of the tank. Over time, sediment will build up on the floor area of almost all water storage tanks and towers. One to three inches is not uncommon here in Texas. Sediment is known to be a habitat for bacteria, protozoa and viruses. Inspection contractors can offer great documentation of the interior condition of water storage tanks with no disruption in water utility service. Using remotely operated cameras, inspection robots, or even potable water divers, high tech contractors can deliver great information about the water storage tank or tower. For information on in-service Water Tank and Tower Inspections, see our inspection page at www.ronperrin.com. For tips on doing your own potable water tank or tower inspection, see: Do your own potable Water Tank Inspection at: THE TANK DIVER blog.

Corrective action may be as simple as basic housekeeping. If you know the facility has never been cleaned there is more than a good chance sediment inside the structure needs to be removed. Again, a qualified diving contractor can save time, water and money by removing all loose sediment with minimal water loss or disruption in service. For more information on using a Potable Water Dive Crew to clean your potable water tank or tower see our cleaning page: www.ronperrin.com/cleaning

Our tank cleaning customers tell us time and again that their chlorine use was significantly reduced after we cleaned their facility. With regular inspections and cleanings your likelihood of a coliform contamination are greatly reduced, if not completely eliminated.