Water Treatment Plant Optimization
Clients call the Hydro-Klean office everyday with questions, issues and dilemmas they are trying to address. One day in April 2008 was no exception. Newton WaterWorks in Newton, Iowa, knew they had a problem with their water supply lines between the well fields and the water treatment plant. Following an unsuccessful attempt to fully resolve the issue with their own methods and equipment, Marty Hoffert, Newton WaterWorks Director of Field Operations, contacted Hydro-Klean to evaluate his options.
The Issues
Marty was aware that pumping pressures from the facility’s well pumps were gradually increasing, putting more and more strain on his pumps and equipment. Also, he had observed how many of their conventional preventative maintenance procedures recently seemed to be less effective. After further investigation, he and his staff determined there was approximately 2” of iron and manganese buildup in the pipes supplying water from the well fields to the treatment plant. The buildup was restricting water flow through the pipe and increasing the pumping pressure while decreasing the effectiveness of the well fields.
The Options
After considering the options, the solutions were narrowed to either cleaning the lines with high pressure water or “pigging” where a plastic “pig,” approximately the same diameter as the pipe is sent through the pipe to dislodge debris and deposits. Although the staff at Newton WaterWorks had some experience with “pigging” they were aware there would be additional work to build launch and retrieval stations for the pigs. The decision was made to pursue high pressure water cleaning as the method of choice.
Get the Bids
Newton WaterWorks then proceeded, like most public entities, to request proposals to clean approximately 10,000’ of pipe ranging in size from 6” to 16” diameter. After evaluating the proposals and discussing each company’s approach, Hydro-Klean was selected to perform the project. Work would begin May 15 and was estimated to take approximately five days.
The Process
Newton WaterWorks personnel performed the excavations and cut access points into each of the pipes to be cleaned. Hydro-Klean utilized a truck-mounted water jet with high pressure water (10,000 psi) and a rotary nozzle to remove the buildup. Newton WaterWorks then flushed each of the pipes to remove the material loosened from the cleaning process. Each of the access points was sealed with a stainless steel repair clamp and identified with GPS so it could be located in the future. Although the project was estimated to take five days, the Hydro-Klean crew finished in less than four full days and saved Newton WaterWorks approximately $4,000 from the original proposal.
The Results
Newton Waterworks had been diligent about recording pump pressures and gallons per minute over the past several years, so following the cleaning process it was easy to see the improvements.
|
Well ID #
|
Flow (gpm)
|
Pump Pressure (psi)
|
|
Before
|
After
|
Before
|
After
|
|
3
|
270
|
460
|
60
|
18
|
|
5
|
105
|
435
|
63
|
29
|
|
19
|
510
|
700
|
42
|
31
|
|
20
|
205
|
247
|
40
|
30
|
|
21
|
250
|
580
|
44
|
31
|
|
22
|
370
|
430
|
38
|
28
|
The project improved the flow from the 20 shallow (50’ deep) wells by over 1,400 gallons per minute. The real savings, however, was that with the increased production from the shallow wells, Newton WaterWorks was able to turn off the 250 hp variable frequency drive submersible pump in their 2,256’ deep Jordan aquifer well. By turning off the Jordan well and the reduced pumping pressures, Newton WaterWorks saw an average gallons of water treated per kilowatt hour of electricity used increase from 589 before to 749 after the cleaning.
“Hydro-Klean’s proposal for the job was reasonable, the crew got the work done efficiently and the results will save us a great deal of money in the future. Our increased pumping capacity allows us to utilize our shallow well source more effectively instead of relying on water from the deeper Jordan aquifer. We have worked with Hydro-Klean on other projects in the past, and we will continue to do so in years to come!”
Thanks,
Marty Hoffert, Director of Field Operations
Newton WaterWorks
To learn more about how Hydro-Klean can assist your facility by optimizing your water flow with high pressure cleaning, call 515-283-0500.
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