Water systems and COVID-19

Truth be told, it’s been a challenge for everyone as we adjust to the new normal during this COVID-19 pandemic. As things have moved along, we’ve developed a new appreciation for the doctors, nurses and medical staff who’ve put themselves in harm’s way to help save lives. 

And in other cases, we’ve learned to appreciate our frontline workers and the things we have in our lives that we take for granted every day – and in our industry, that’s the building managers and crews responsible for maintaining water systems. 

In normal times – places like offices, schools, stores and factories are all engineered with complex systems that help us to keep up with our high levels of water consumption. Now with those buildings unoccupied, that’s all been flipped on its head as now we’ve found ourselves in maintenance mode; grappling with the unexpected consequences on pipe’s filters and valves and other equipment that’s all basically running on dry – all of which can lead to a whole host of new problems. 

Now, water and sewer professionals are dealing with things like:

• Microorganisms, that are capable of growing in pipes, fixtures and tanks

• Protective coating on pipes dissolving, allowing for lead particles to seep into the water supply

• Disinfection byproducts and other harmful substances being flushed into the water supply – and their costly buildup over time. 

Like we said – these things aren’t easy to monitor, but thankfully things like pump controllers can be used to identify some of these issues. In fact, with little cooling demand due to lack of occupancy in mild spring weather; now’s the perfect time to inspect and service not only water systems themselves, but also heating and cooling systems. It’s an even better time to get out ahead of water and sewage issues as well.

While many things are uncertain these days, we do know that someday, we’ll re-open and go back. And that time would be the worst time to find a decrease in water quality of malfunctioning sewage equipment. In a way, while this pandemic has taken away so many things from all of us, it has given us a great opportunity to reset, plan and prepare; so that when it’s time to get back in the saddle, that you’ll be ready and raring to go. 

If you’d like to learn more about how pump controllers can make a difference in your community or business, give us a call today and we’ll be happy to provide you with a free consultation. Good luck and stay safe, folks!