Things to Focus on When Conducting Water Tower Inspection.

For any community, water tanks are the primary storage facility to keep safe drinking water. The storage tanks also function as a reliable source of water for fire protection. To ensure the water pressure is proper and optimal, and there is no contamination of water, the water storage facility should undergo water tank inspection services at least once a month.

When it comes to water tower inspection, there are a few factors to consider. In this blog, we will look into each of these factors in detail.

Overflow pipe

The overflow pipe is another place where the contaminants can enter the tank; thus, it must be appropriately screened. To prevent the siphoning of dirty water into the water tank, adequate relief of the overflow pipe should be maintained. Besides this, there must be an air break just above the ground. The pipe must be cut off above the ground so that the elbow can be installed. The elbow ensures that the water flows directly into the splash pad or inlet and prevents erosion. In case the water leaves the tank at a low level, the overflow pipe must be redesigned. A new penetration should be installed through the tank with termination height at 12 to 24 inches.

Vents

Tanks vents are critical component of any tower tank or aboveground water storage facility. The venting system works as an entry and exit point for the air to prevent a vacuum. The vacuum can wreck-havoc to a water tank by causing detrimental damage to its structure. Like any other element of tower water inspection, the inspector checks whether tank venting has been done in accordance with the guidelines or not. The vent should be screened to prevent contaminants like insects, birds, debris, etc. from entering. The cap must cover the vent from all the sides to keep the rainwater from entering during a storm. Besides this, the screen should be undamaged and in proper dimensions as set aside by the guidelines. The material used to make the screen must be of corrosion-resistant material like fiberglass. An adequately attached screen should be even from above and below the vents opening.

Telecommunications

When inspecting the water tower, telecommunications equipment must be thoroughly vetted. Such installations can contaminate the drinking water or result in a hazard. When conducting the inspection, ensure the installation does not compromise the structure of the tank. The damaged or improper installation may present unsafe conditions for the inspectors or operators. The telecom cable and wires must be grouped appropriately. The cables should be routed from the tank’s center to the handrail and then channeled along with the handrail system to the respective antenna. It’s essential to note that telecom cables shouldn’t be attached to the top handrail. In case the tank inspection company needs to make a change in the installation, the city must review it.

Access locations

Since 2001, water storage facilities have been labeled as federally protected sites. There should be enough provisions to ensure access to the water tank is restricted. Some protective methods could be covering the area with locked fences, securing the access doors with security codes, etc.