Inspections - avoid unpredicted financial and operational consequences
Inspections, west Greenland
Hazardous old coating on concrete tank, replaced with 1100 sq.m. drinking water-approved PE liner
Contamination from coating on a concrete tank along with cracks in the concrete meant an increased risk of contaminated water. The only correct solution for the customer was PE liner approved for use with drinking water.
A strange smell was causing the utility company concern about water quality, and after tests on the drinking water, it was decided that the concrete drinking-water tank should be renovated.
Condition of the tank before renovation: Ochre accumulation, rusted steel pipes and peeling paint
Cracks in the concrete, peeled coating and steel pipes corroded through
Inspection of the drinking-water revealed cracks in the concrete, and showed that the old coating previously applied to the tank was now starting to peel. We found this old coating in several places in the tank's drinking water, which meant an increased risk of contamination.
The elevated tank also had corroded steel pipes, posing a further risk of contamination to the drinking water.
Renovated and replaced with plastic
We renovated the elevated tank with PE liner - solid plastic sheets that are mounted directly on the concrete and welded together to seal them 100%.
We needed 1,100 sq.m. of plastic for the renovation of the drinking-water tank. The double-walled construction provides extra reliability in terms of supply..
All steel pipes were also replaced with HDPE pipes to avoid future corrosion. HDPE is the same type of plastic that is already used in utility pipes in Greenland.
We are delighted with the renovated concrete tank, which makes our drinking water safe, and significantly increases the lifespan of the elevated tank. This was and is the only real solution. There has also been good dialogue throughout the project.
Operations consultant at Nukissiorfiit, Mads Albæk Sørensen - Nukissiorfiit is responsible for electricity, water and heat supplies in Greenland.
Result of concrete tank after renovation with PE plastic liner - new PE piping
Result of concrete tank after renovation with PE plastic liner