Overview
What do we as operators need to know to keep water treatment plants properly maintained? What inspections do we need to carry out? How are maintenance and repair tasks managed? What health and safety issues are involved? What record keeping should be done?
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Treatment plants are designed to ensure the safety and quality of the raw water delivered to consumers, and the waste water which is released back into the environment. ‘Water treatment plants’ deal with raw water, and ‘water reclamation plants’ treat sewage and other waste water.
Raw water may come from a range of sources: ‘surface water’ such as rivers and creeks, dams and lakes; and ‘ground water’ from bores. In most cases, this water will require some form of treatment before it meets the standards for drinking water.
Raw water usually arrives at the treatment plant via a reticulation system. In some cases it may have already had some pre-treatment such as grate filtering or chemicals added in a dam.
‘Waste’ water nowadays is recognized as a valuable resource rather than a problem to be disposed of. Waste water usually means domestic sewage and grey water, industrial waste water and storm water.
The aim of a water reclamation plant is to reclaim water by separating all the contaminants. Each plant is a complex of pipes pumps, valves and controlling equipment.
Routine inspections must be undertaken on all treatment plant assets. A variety of pipes and fittings is used, each with its own characteristics. There is also a wide range of mechanical and electrical equipment, and these too must be inspected and maintained regularly.
Inspections and maintenance must be recorded according to both legislative and organisational requirements. Legislation sets minimum standards which all organisations must meet. Organisational policies and procedures determine how far above the minimum each workplace will aim to achieve.
