Ask the Expert

Why is Water treatment so imprtant and how do you do it?

By Clive Carter, Managing Director

Disinfection

Disinfections are carried out for a multitude of different reasons such as installation of new pipe works or finding harmful bacteria within water systems. There are different ways of carrying out a disinfection one way could be dosing chemical at low levels within systems that have recurring bacteriological fouling within critical systems that we are unable to shut down or alter.

Another way would be to shock dose the system by adding high levels of disinfectant into a system that is put into our control for a specified period of time. t is important during this process that the entire system remains in control of the water hygiene company so that the disinfectant levels can be continually monitored and maintained for a specific amount of time.

We also have in hot water systems the ability to carry out a thermal pasteurisation. This is similar to a disinfection in we are looking to achieve the same goal of reducing or removing bacteria within a system but, in this case we use high temperatures to kill the bacteria within the system. These procedures are important to keep the health and wellbeing of the people using these water systems safe from infections.

Legionella services

Legionella services cover a wide spectrum of services from temperature monitoring, water sampling, disinfections and inspecting the compliance of the main plant i.e. cold tanks and hot water vessels.

These services are essential services within buildings that are occupied by a multitude of different people from healthcare settings, schools to leisure centres and hotels as legionella can affect the health of anybody in the population but is most harmful to those in their senior years or with respiratory issues.

Closed systems

The monitoring of closed systems is carried out because these systems are by nature sealed and it is not always easy to see what is going on within them. These systems generally need to be monitored for corrosion and the growth of bacteria.

It is important that closed systems are free from corrosion and bacteria to ensure that they o correctly and that the main mechanical elements in the system work properly. This could be anything from boilers, chillers to automatic diversion valves. We monitor these by using site engineer testing kits or for a more in depth view we use UKAS accredited laboratory testing.

Water sampling

Depending on what it is that we are looking for within a water system dictates on what type of water sampling is carried out. This could be dip slides for bacterial and fungal growth, UKAS accredited laboratory testing for legionella, coliforms and other harmful bacteria's that can be found within systems, or for the chemical makeup within water whether this is chlorine level within a new main or inhibitor levels within a closed system. It is important that we carry these out to gain an in depth and accurate picture of what is happening within a water system.

How have technology and techniques developed over the past 30+ years?

The technology within the industry has and continues to develop at a steady rate, from remote monitoring to automated dosing systems. It can at times be quite fast paced with the updates to water systems becoming more ecofriendly and the uses within the renewables industry. At CDS Rose Limited we try to remain open minded, updated, educated and trained to the highest standards to carry out the best possible service.