Factors to consider for cleaning potable water systems

Today I'm going to revisit a topic that has come up in the various places that I write about my client, Professional Piping Services Inc. That topic is the factors to consider when evaluating potable water systems for cleaning.

Potable Water Cleaning Process Factors

Depending on the individual situation, potable water pipe cleaning is often performed in 8 to 10 hour cycles, with the system disinfected and restored to potable use at the end of each shutdown period. The cleaning process provides for immediate restoration of service if the need should arise, as might be the case for fire protection. An important part of the cleaning process for potable water systems is advanced notification of all consumers with instructions on how to manage and work through this temporary disruption of service.

Quite a length of pipe can be cleaned very quickly, heavily influenced by the reliability of mapping of the piping system, the initial interior conditions and the size & age of pipe(s). It is not uncommon to clean a whole mile of pipe in one cycle. It is recommended, but not required, to begin cleaning the piping system on the supply side allowing water that has just been put through the costly treatment process is carried through clean pipes into the remaining system.

After a thorough cleaning, a potable water system should not be expected to become soiled again. Today's quality standards at water treatment facilities leave little to nothing to soil the interior of the piping system. On the other hand, allowing clean potable water to leave the plant and enter poorly maintained aging pipe that's already contaminated with lime, silt or other deposits presents an inferior product to the end users in homes, restaurants and other businesses.

A frequent side benefit of having your potable water system cleaned is that the mapping of the system will be updated with the accurate location of lost valves and mystery connections. Locations, diameters and other details can be recorded for later use.

My client, Professional Piping Services, Inc, is a Certified Underground Utility Contractor with License Number CU-C055717

Summary:

1. Provide advanced notification to all consumers
2. A section of the system may be offline for 8 to 10 hours
3. The system is restored to potable use at the end of each session
4. Accurate mapping influences the length of pipe processed in each session
5. Start at the source, whenever possible
6. This should be a once and done operation in modern potable systems, as modern standards prevent re-contamination.
7. There is a side benefit of having the system re-mapped, aiding in future maintenance and expansion projects.