Water Treatment Plants Require Emergency Power
Water Must Be Treated Prior To Use And Consumption Facilities Count On A Backup Generator.
In our home, we turn on the faucet and water flows. Start the dishwasher, and valves open to allow the flowof water. Drinkable water is in high demand so it's imperative there are safety plans in place to protect it!
About 71% of the earth is covered with water. We tap into approximately 1% of this supply for our potable water (drinkable) supply. The remaining 70% can be used, but it is not financially feasible to transform it into potable water yet!
Water treatment plants remove contaminants from drinking water. Treatment plants get water from man-made reservoirs, rivers, and natural lakes. Water must be treated to adhere to standards contained in the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Suspended solids, bacteria, algae, viruses, fungi and minerals such as manganese and iron must be removed to comply with standards and be safe to drink. The water is processed in the following manner:
- Pre-chlorination - Controls algae and stops biological growth
- Aeration - Removes dissolved iron and small amounts of manganese
- Coagulation for Flocculation - Sometimes known as slow sand filtration, polyelectrolytes are added to improve coagulation
- Sedimentation - Allows suspended solids to separate
- Filtration - Passed through media filter system to remove remaining particles suspended in water
- Disinfection - Kills bacteria, virus and other pathogens
If an emergency generator back up is not installed, and the power fails, all water treatment stops. When the tank(s) of treated water are empty, no water is available for distribution.
Water Supply Facilities and Emergency Backup Generators
Large electric pump(s) pressurize the water pipes with treated water. The suction side of the pump(s) is connected to a tank that contains treated water. The discharge is connected to the main utility piping that supplies both residential and industrial facilities.
If power fails to the supply pump electric motor, the water system will not maintain pressure. Power failures to the treatment or supply system in a water treatment can cause loss of water to the utility system. Some effects of loss of utility water pressure are:
- No water for drinking, bathing or cleaning
- No water for facility fire safety systems
- No industrial water supply for machines
- No water supply for fire-fighting efforts
In addition to the loss of water processing and supply, security systems fail. Water treatment facilities can employ security systems to alert officials of terrorist activity. Standby diesel generators are used to supply power to critical equipment in treatment facilities. Complete systems can be employed to restore power to vital systems.
Generator Source has provided generators, equipment, and various services to water treatment plans and all similar types of facilities. Give us a call and we can help.
Story Summary
Why is emergency power needed for water treatment plants? Emergency power in the form of backup generators, is critical for water treatment plants for several reasons:
- It allows water treatment and distribution to continue during power outages
- It prevents loss of water pressure in the distribution system
- It keeps security systems running
- It enables critical equipment like pumps and treatment processes to run
What happens if a water treatment plant loses power?
Without emergency backup power, a power outage at a water treatment plant can lead to:
- Stoppage of water treatment processes
- Depletion of treated water reserves
- Loss of water pressure and supply to homes and businesses
- Inability to provide water for drinking, sanitation, and firefighting
- Potential contamination of the water supply
What type of emergency power is typically used?
Most water treatment plants use diesel generators as their primary form of emergency backup power. Key features include:
- Sufficient capacity to run essential equipment and processes
- Fuel storage for extended runtime
- Automatic transfer switches for seamless power transition
- Regular testing and maintenance to ensure reliability
- Is emergency power required by regulations?
- Emergency power is mandated for large water treatment facilities.
- Plants treating over 10,000 gallons per day often require standby power
- Backup power may be required if an outage could lead to discharge into protected waters
- Specific requirements vary by location but generally aim to ensure continuous safe water supply
How long can emergency power sustain operations?
- The duration depends on the specific setup, but most plants aim for:
- At least 24-48 hours of full operation on generator power
- Ability to run essential processes for several days if needed
- Fuel storage and resupply plans to extend runtime during prolonged outages
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| 4/1/2018 11:18:43 AM
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