Active Mixing Solves Water Tank Problems

Your municipal water tanks are valuable assets. They represent both a sizable capital investment and a crucial barrier in your potable water supply. To prevent costly problems, water tanks need to be inspected regularly and operated properly to maintain tank integrity and water quality.

American Water Works Association, or AWWA, has produced a standard for steel water tanks.¹ The standard recommends that operators visually inspect tanks regularly, monthly at a minimum. Every three years, again at a minimum, tanks should be drained, washed out, and professionally inspected. Inspections must assess safety and security issues, structural and coating condition, and obvious sanitary concerns (e.g. biofilm/sediment build up).

But what about between inspections? Problems arise that have the potential to impact not only water tank integrity but also water quality. Problems like:

• Water tank damaged by freezing and corrosion
• Increased water age and reduced chlorine residuals
• Increased risk of nitrification in chloraminated systems
• Increased production of disinfection byproducts

Let’s first examine these problems in more detail and then how adding one component to the system has the potential to solve them all.