Batten Down the Hatches…

Ground view of Water Storage Tower

Hurricane season starts in June 1 and ends in November 30, with the peak of this season starting after August. Although September marks the beginning of fall, it also tends to be the most active month for hurricanes in the Atlantic.

In late August the gulf was hit by a Category 4 Hurricane, Hurricane Ida. Hurricane Ida swept through Louisiana, and Mississippi leaving damage, destruction, and losses for many. According to apnews.com, Hurricane Ida became the fifth most powerful hurricane to hit the United States. Along with this record it also became the second most damaging hurricane to hit the state of Louisiana, with estimates of 50 to 60 billion dollars in damage.

Not only did Hurricane Ida strike Louisiana and Mississippi, it became a Tropical Storm that swept through the Northeastern United States. The hurricane left the Northeastern States with record flash flooding and rainfalls.

Like many catastrophic storms, many were left without electricity or running water. Apnews.com reported three days after the storm hit Louisiana and Mississippi millions were still without electricity and state health officials stated more than 600,000 were without running water.

We have all seen the images of destruction a hurricane or tropical storm can cause like flooding roads, fallen trees, and damaged structures. But what we don’t see is the damage it can do to our Water Systems, including the water storage tanks and towers.

After a hurricane, tropical storm, or even a severe thunderstorm has impacted your area, it is critical to complete an inspection to evaluate any damages that may have occurred to your water system or water storage tanks. These powerful storms can cause numerous problems for the water tanks and towers, problems that might not be seen from the ground below. The high winds can cause damage to hatches, vent structures and air craft warning lights, and in some cases even be blown off.  Even the foundations of the water storage tanks, like homes and buildings can be affected due to the severe rainfall and flash flooding. Without evaluating the damages that can occur to your water storage tanks, you may be leaving entry ways that can allow birds, insects, and other pollutants to enter the tank.

The latest Tropical Storm to hit the Texas Gulf Coast, tropical storm Nicholas, brought flash flooding and high level rainfalls. With more tropical storms and potential hurricane to come this hurricane season it is important to stay current with your TCEQ inspections. After disasters have occurred the most important necessities that people need is shelter, light, and WATER. By doing your inspections you can be sure your water system is prepared to provide your community with SAFE water.

If you would like a free quote for your tanks email perrinsales@gmail.com

or

Call us at 888-481-1768.

Visit us at ronperrin.com for more information about us and our services!

Like our company Facebook page   https://www.facebook.com/ronperrinwatertech/

Toll Free: 888-481-1768           Direct: 817-377-4988             Fax: 817-246-1740

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Fun in the Sun

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As the year summer comes to a close, many people got to take advantage of the beaches, lakes, and rivers to cool down. Travel during the summer seems to have been high, higher than last year at least. Some people opted to stay home and enjoy water attractions, and public pools near or in their own communities.  Most of us wouldn’t ever think about getting sick from a trip of relaxation, and just soaking up some sun. But according to the CDC they reported almost 500 recreational water outbreak illnesses. These reports were gathered from 2010 to 2014, and the three most common illnesses reported were Acute Gastrointestinal illnesses (diarrhea or vomiting), Skin illnesses (rashes), and Acute Respiratory illnesses (cough or congestion).

While public pools, water attractions, and water playgrounds do undergo routine inspections, a CDC study found more than 10 percent of the inspections resulted in immediate closures because of severe violations. These inspections also included hotel and motel pools, spas, and hot tubs. Despite the fact most pools and water attractions give off a chlorine scent, many can be over chlorinated. Over chlorination can lead to something minor like red, irritated eyes to something as severe as Chlorine Poisoning. Although many of us associate chlorine in water to be safe, even at the correct levels it could not be as effective as one may think. Used at the recommended levels chlorine does in fact eliminate most germs in the water in minutes. But there are some germs like Cryptosporidium (a germ that causes diarrhea) that can live in accurately treated water for days, infecting many people and even causing outbreaks. 

Recreational pools and waterpark attractions aren’t the only place that can harbor these bacteria and viruses. The water we use from the tap can potentially contain the bacteria and viruses. The water is usually distributed from water tanks and towers. These water storage tanks and towers do require an annual inspection to be done and are usually enforced by the state’s water associations. These annual inspections are important for a water utility to complete because it will provide valuable information on the condition of the water tank and the levels of sediment in the tank. 

In Texas the inspections are enforced by the TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. While inspections are done yearly, cleanings are done as needed. 

Some tanks are on a cleaning schedule while others are seldom and even some never cleaned at all. In many of those there is a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses inside these water tanks and towers. The breeding ground is in a layer of sediment that accumulates at the bottom of these tanks and towers. 

Some water utility managers and supervisors may not know that a thin layer of sediment is enough for the bacteria and viruses to get a foothold in the water storage tank and towers. Sediment that accumulates in almost all water storage systems can be a safe habitat that can harbor a wide range of contaminants. Sediment that is allowed to build up on the floor of water storage tanks provides shelter from chlorine and other treatment chemicals allowing the intruders to grow and be a potential problem.

And even though water utility managers and supervisors do their part to ensure clean drinking water, most may not be aware that cleaning the sediment at the bottom of the tank could be a great help to them in getting better water quality results. But who wants to take a tank out of service? What if you do not need to shut your system down just to clean the sediment out? Removing the sediment while the tank remains in service is possible with the help of fully certified divers to remove the sediment at the bottom of the tank or tower.  There are only a few specialty companies like ours that only dive in potable water.

Ron Perrin Water Technologies is a company that offers water storage tank and tower inspections, and cleanings. Ron Perrin Water Technologies even offers a new service that allows you to clean standpipes, which could be very difficult to do with a diver and would usually be drained to have a cleaning done because of the height of these tanks. Ron Perrin Water Technologies combated adding this new service in which they drop a cleaning robot into the standpipe to get help clear the layers of sediment. With these services that Ron Perrin Water Technologies offers there is little to no disruption of service to the water utilities. If you would like a free inspection or cleaning quote, you can contact them at 817-377-4899. 

Visit us at ronperrin.com for more information about us and our services!

Like our company Facebook page   https://www.facebook.com/ronperrinwatertech

Crisp, Clean, and Refreshing?

When you drink a cold glass of water you know it’s good when you can describe it as “crisp, clean, and refreshing.” What if that crisp, clean, and refreshing glass of water was contaminated with bacteria that could lead to illness and even death? The bacteria and viruses in the water wouldn’t even be seen by the naked eye. Unless you could test your water every time you turned on the tap, there would be no way for you to know what you were drinking.

It is very important for a water system to maintain their water safety, whether that means keeping up with their yearly TCEQ potable water tank inspections or just checking their chlorine levels. If a water system has high use of chlorine it is probably due to the chlorine fighting some sort of contaminate in the water. There is a chance the contamination in the water tank could be breeding in the sediment of the potable water storage tank. An important step a water system can take is to remove any sediment that is found to have accumulated in their water tanks.

Though some sediment is common in most potable water storage tanks, it is important to know when too much sediment accumulates it can cause a big problem.  Bacteria like Legionella, protozoa like Cryptosporidium, and a wide range of viruses including Norovirus can HIDE and GROW in the water tank sediment. Once the bacteria have a foothold in the water tank it can cause problems for not only the water system, but for the community they are providing water to. Most of the bacteria can cause nausea, vomiting, fever, and diarrhea and in some cases exposure to the bacteria or virus can be fatal.

With yearly inspections, and testing your residuals often you can have the knowledge you need to prevent infiltration of these bacteria and viruses. By cleaning the sediment in your water storage tank you can prevent any bacteria or viruses from maintaining a hold in your water tank. These simple steps can be the difference of maintaining the quality of the water that is essential to the community.

If you would like a free quote for your tanks email or call us at 888-481-1768.

Visit us at ronperrin.com for more information about us and our services!

Like our company Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ronperrinwatertech

Toll Free: 888-481-1768           Direct: 817-377-4988             Fax: 817-246-1740

Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Hurricanes and Water Systems

South Texas just officially welcomed our first hurricane of the season. Hurricane Hanna greeted South Texas with flooding, damaging winds, and power outages. Most people think hurricanes are very active in the summer months, but the most active month for hurricanes in the Atlantic is actually in September.

Though rain can be a relief in Texas too much of it can cause problems. If we look at the aftermath of what a Hurricane can leave in path, we can see flooding roads, fallen trees, and damaged structures. We have all seen the news showing what kind of destruction a tropical storm or a hurricane can cause. But what we don’t see is the damage it can do to our Water Systems.

After tropical storms and hurricanes have impacted your area, it is critical to complete an inspection to assess any damages that may have occurred. High winds can do damage to hatches, vent structures and air craft warning lights, and in some cases even be blown off.  Even the foundations of the storage tanks, like homes and buildings can be affected from severe rainfall and flash flooding. Without assessing the damages that can occur to your water tanks, you may be leaving openings that can allow birds, insects, and other pollutants to enter the tank.

As the hurricane season is just starting it is important to stay current with your TCEQ inspections. After disasters have occurred the most important necessities that people need is shelter, light, and WATER. By doing your inspections you can be sure your water system is prepared to provide your community with SAFE water.

If you would like a free quote for your tanks email or

call us at 888-481-1768.

Visit us at ronperrin.com for more information about us and our services!

Like our company Facebook page   https://www.facebook.com/ronperrinwatertech

Toll Free: 888-481-1768           Direct: 817-377-4988             Fax: 817-246-1740

ROV Water Tank Inspection

Water Tank Inspection. Water Tank Cleaning. ROV Water Tank Inspection. Since 1997 Ron Perrin Water Technologies has been a leader in underwater inspection services for potable water storage tanks.  Our inspection methods include Remote Cameras, ROV inspections and Potable Water Diver inspections.

 

Our inspections offer the most information for the lowest cost while never disrupting water service or draining your tank.  Check out our new ROV Tank Inspection Video on youtube.

We have a a fleet of ROV’s to insure we are ready to meet your inspection needs. For a free price quote call Debi at 817-377-4899, or toll free at 888-481-1768.

Visit our new web page at www.watertankinspection.com

 

June 2013 Test of New Remotely Operated Vehicle for Tank Inspections

Our first use of the DEEP TREKKER ROV was successful.   We were able to get to the back of a 500,000 gallon potable water storage tank and see sediment level and interior conditions of roof support Columbus and walls.   The second inspection we did was on a one million gallon 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!

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

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WHAT IS IN YOUR POTABLE WATER STORAGE TANKS AND TOWERS?   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 or need.

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