Activated consistent monitoring
Eliminated active pipework corrosion or bacteria present in water
Enhanced water quality
“Ongoing independent monitoring by FairHeat has given us fully visibility of how well our systems performing. The brief reports issued are clear, concise and easy to digest and FairHeat’s expertise ensures that any concerns are picked up immediately. This then allows us to take remedial action before the issue has time to become significant.”
Head of Heating and Hot Water Services, Housing Association
Background
The client is one of the largest providers of affordable housing and care in England. The project entailed the assessment of water quality for four different properties, three located in London and one in south-west England. All the properties were housing association schemes and varied between extra care, social rent, affordable rent, and shared ownership. In total, the project covered over 950 dwellings.
Challenge
Maintaining good water quality within a heat network is one of the most important factors in ensuring the longevity of the system.
Poorly maintained systems can result in pipework corrosion, scaling, suspended solids and bacterial growth. All of which can risk pipework failure (leaks) and equipment failure, reducing the lifespan of a network, resulting in expensive remedial costs to heat network operators and heating and hot water outages.
Unfortunately, water quality is often overlooked, and by the time water quality issues typically become visible (e.g., leaks, strainer blockages), the damage is significant.
The purpose of the service was to certify the housing association have visibility and control over their systems water quality. By continually monitoring the networks and by taking a pro-active approach to any issues raised, the housing association can ensure water quality is maintained at a high level and does not deteriorate over time.
It was important that those who maintain the system and those who report on the system quality remained independent. As such, FairHeat were engaged to undertake water quality monitoring.
FairHeat Solution
FairHeat employed a water treatment specialist to collect and test water quality samples from each site.
FairHeat processed the water sample results submitted by the water treatment specialist and produced brief reports for housing association. The reports highlighted any areas of concern that the client needed to be aware of and provided recommended remedial actions to be undertaken. This allowed the client to quickly and easily understand the issues present in the system, without the need to interpret and analyse water sample results, and simply instruct their maintenance providers to carry out any remedial works.
The tests were undertaken every quarter. As part of the water quality sample review process, FairHeat carried out a trend analysis of the results. Trend analysis are used alongside upper and lower limits to determine areas for concern, allowing issues to be spotted early. It also provides a simple visual way for the water quality to be viewed and understood by the client.
Continual monitoring takes place quarterly, where water samples are taken and FairHeat follow each set of samples with a report.
Water treatment specialist
Collect and process water quality samples at each site quarterly.
Analysis of results
FairHeat interpret and analyse water sample results and produce brief report, highlighting areas for concern and recommended actions.
Trend Analysis
Water quality trend analysis is used to determine trends and as a visual aid for reporting.
Results
System monitoring undertaken by FairHeat has allowed the housing association to react to any risks identified and implement recommendations swiftly before significant damage can occur.
FairHeat’s monitoring has identified potential leaks, which has allowed for the investigate on the clients’ networks. Monitoring has identified when corrosion inhibitor levels are low or metal concentration increase, which has allowed for immediate dosing to take place to ensure the systems are always protected.
As a result of the pro-active approach, all four networks currently have no active pipework corrosion occurring or bacteria present.
Identified risks and implemented recommendations
Preventative actions and maintenance. For example. installing equipment and dosing system
No active pipework corrosion or bacteria present in any location
