Water treatment tanks must be up to scratch
In water treatment plants, tanks are used to store and handle a variety of liquids and media used to purify water. The safety of a water treatment plant is partly about ensuring that treated water is not contaminated and partly about ensuring that chemicals, by-products or contaminated water do not leak out. In both cases, human health and nature can be harmed. If this is due to a lack of oversight, there can be legal and financial consequences for those responsible. By inspecting regularly, you can prevent problems and repair minor damage in time. At Cistern Solutions, we can help you with both inspection and repair.
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Water treatment using cisterns
At a treatment plant, there are tanks for filtration, oxygenation, pH adjustment or storage. The substances stored in the tanks are: Raw water: Untreated water Wastewater: Dirty water from households and industries Purified water: Water that has undergone the entire purification process and can be released into the environment or reused.
Chemicals:
- Precipitation chemicals that precipitate phosphorus and other substances.
- Disinfectants that kill bacteria and other micro-organisms.
- pH adjusters: Acids and bases are used to adjust the pH of the water.
- Flotation agent: separates impurities from the water.
Sludge: Sewage sludge is a by-product of the treatment process. Biogas: Sludge can be used to produce biogas. Air: In some parts of the biological treatment process, air or oxygen is added. Depending on the medium and volume, cisterns range from concrete and glass fibre reinforced plastic (GAP) to galvanized steel and stainless steel. All tanks can be reinforced with a coating for extra protection.
Problems and damage in water treatment tanks
Cisterns at wastewater treatment plants are subject to stresses that can lead to cracks, leaks or a weakened structure. Corrosion is a common problem. Metal can react with acids, alkalis or salts used in the treatment process. Water with a low pH, such as acid rainwater leaking in, or water with a high oxygen content, increases the risk of corrosion. Moisture and oxygen from the air can also speed up the corrosion process. Galvanic corrosion can occur if, for example, you insert stainless steel pipes into a galvanized steel tank. Chemicals used in purification processes can break down the tank. Sulphuric acid and sodium hydroxide are examples of chemicals that can cause damage. Disinfectants such as chlorine or ozone can also have a negative impact. Physical abrasion occurs when particles float around in the water, especially if the water is flowing at high speed. The risk is greatest in cisterns containing wastewater or sludge. Rapid temperature changes can lead to stresses that cause cracking or deformation. Bacteria, algae or mold can affect the corrosion rate. Structural damage can occur if the installation is incorrectly done, in case of settlements or overloading. The result is cracking or deformation.