ROVs Employed for Water Tank Inspections
Intertek, a total quality assurance provider to industries worldwide, has launched a new remotely operated vehicle (ROV) potable water tank inspection service that offers clients the option of using ROVs to inspect large-capacity water tanks. Potable water tank inspection must be carried out periodically to mitigate health risks to those working on offshore platforms or in other facilities that require their use. Vitally, inspections should detect any evidence of contamination, biofilm deposits, corrosion formation and the growth of Legionella.
Typically, potable water tanks are taken out of service to be emptied and inspected directly by personnel, a process which can be hazardous and time consuming, sometimes taking up to three days. Intertek’s new service allows clients to instead send in a mini ROV, which removes the need to drain and refill the tank, mitigates risks to personnel and can ensure that tanks are back in service after 12 hours. When evidence of corrosion or bacteria is detected, Intertek can make treatment recommendations, including operational advice, cleaning, patch recoating or complete tank refurbishment.
Julie Hart, Water Hygiene Technical Manager for Intertek Production and Integrity Assurance, said, “Regular water tank hygiene inspection is extremely important as the tanks can become a breeding ground for Legionella and other bacteria which cause water quality degradation. Our ROVs deliver close visual inspection which allows for fast, accurate pricing of remedial work. This new equipment and methodology, along with our decades of experience in microbiology, really allows us to provide forerunning services to clients who take these procedures very seriously and priorities the health and wellbeing of their personnel.”
As well as tank inspection and potable water management services, Intertek Production and Integrity Assurance provides clients with a range of related solutions, including legionella management, water system disinfection, microbiological surveys, molecular analysis, media test kits and oilfield microbiology training.