Potable water diver
Encyclopedia
A potable water diver works in a potable water tank
performing inspection and cleaning tasks.
Certified commercial divers can inspect water storage tanks, towers and clearwells without draining them or taking them out of service. SCUBA certified divers should not be permitted to inspect water tanks as they typically do not have the proper training to safely perform water tank inspections/cleanings. The diver is totally encapsulated (no part of the divers body touches the water) in a sealed drysuit and then washed down with a 200ppm chlorine
solution prior to entry into the tank. All diving dress is to be used exclusively in drinking water. This meets American Water Works Association
(AWWA) standards for entering a public water system. The diver is then able to move about the tank to perform inspections or clean the tank. AWWA recommends removing sediment accumulations over 1/2" deep from the floor of a drinking water tank because it can harbor bacteria and/or other contaminants which could adversely affect water quality. Using a specially equipped pump or airlift system
the diver is able to remove the sediment from the floor of the tank. Everything that is loose is removed without damage to painted surfaces. This allows the chlorine in the system to more effectively do its job. This is the most effective way to clean and inspect potable water storage tanks because all of the maintenance can be done while the tank remains in-service and full of water and most of the interior surfaces of the tank can be easily accessed.
It is important to note the dangerous aspects of tank dives, particularly in water tanks above ten million litres. These days divers require confined-space training and working at heights certification, just to name a few. And there should always be at least one trained spotter keeping a consistent eye on surface bubbles (indicating the diver is still breathing). The diver should be wearing a harness, strapped to a safety rope, so that in case of an emergency the spotter can pull the diver up. Divers always need to check the safety legislation in their state/country.
Water tank
A Water tank is a container for storing water. The need for a water tank is as old as civilized man, providing storage of water for drinking water, irrigation agriculture, fire suppression, agricultural farming, both for plants and livestock, chemical manufacturing, food preparation as well as many...
performing inspection and cleaning tasks.
Certified commercial divers can inspect water storage tanks, towers and clearwells without draining them or taking them out of service. SCUBA certified divers should not be permitted to inspect water tanks as they typically do not have the proper training to safely perform water tank inspections/cleanings. The diver is totally encapsulated (no part of the divers body touches the water) in a sealed drysuit and then washed down with a 200ppm chlorine
Chlorine
Chlorine is the chemical element with atomic number 17 and symbol Cl. It is the second lightest halogen, found in the periodic table in group 17. The element forms diatomic molecules under standard conditions, called dichlorine...
solution prior to entry into the tank. All diving dress is to be used exclusively in drinking water. This meets American Water Works Association
American Water Works Association
American Water Works Association was established as an international non-profit professional organization dedicated to the improvement of water quality and supply. Founded in 1881, it claims a membership of around 56,000 members worldwide as of 2010.AWWA has become the largest organization of...
(AWWA) standards for entering a public water system. The diver is then able to move about the tank to perform inspections or clean the tank. AWWA recommends removing sediment accumulations over 1/2" deep from the floor of a drinking water tank because it can harbor bacteria and/or other contaminants which could adversely affect water quality. Using a specially equipped pump or airlift system
Airlift pump
An airlift pump is a simple pump which is powered by compressed air.-Principle:The only energy required is air.This air is usually compressed by a compressor or a blower....
the diver is able to remove the sediment from the floor of the tank. Everything that is loose is removed without damage to painted surfaces. This allows the chlorine in the system to more effectively do its job. This is the most effective way to clean and inspect potable water storage tanks because all of the maintenance can be done while the tank remains in-service and full of water and most of the interior surfaces of the tank can be easily accessed.
It is important to note the dangerous aspects of tank dives, particularly in water tanks above ten million litres. These days divers require confined-space training and working at heights certification, just to name a few. And there should always be at least one trained spotter keeping a consistent eye on surface bubbles (indicating the diver is still breathing). The diver should be wearing a harness, strapped to a safety rope, so that in case of an emergency the spotter can pull the diver up. Divers always need to check the safety legislation in their state/country.