The criticality of maintenance in the water and wastewater segment
March 2024Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
By Peter Marumong, cluster segment leader, and Sarika Andhee, marketing leader, Field Services Anglophone at Schneider Electric.
Peter Marumong, cluster segment leader, Field Services Anglophone at Schneider Electric.
In a time of water shedding, climate change and ageing infrastructure, the importance of maintenance and support in the water and wastewater (WWW) segment cannot be overstated. Regular maintenance plays a critical role in the safe, compliant and sustainable provision of water. Furthermore, industry requirements such as the Green and Blue Drop certifications require continuous upkeep to ensure equipment runs optimally and meets the stipulated standards.
Whilst regulatory constraints and procurement policies present challenges, the industry is becoming increasingly aware of the consequences of neglecting maintenance. The pressing need for reliable water supply, and the deteriorating state of infrastructure have undoubtedly highlighted the urgency of prioritising maintenance.
Unpacking the WWW services lifecycle
Stages within a customer’s equipment lifecycle include planning, installation, operation, optimisation and renewal. These stages are crucial in maintaining superior equipment performance throughout its lifecycle.
Service contracts are pivotal in ensuring regular maintenance is carried out to maximise uptime and performance of water treatment plants. It has been proved that delays in maintenance can result in deterioration of wear and tear components, causing unnecessary downtime. With the new conditional-based maintenance approach, we can now use sensors to monitor the state of the asset and ascertain the risk to the operation. This provides key predictive insights, which can be used to make informed decisions.
With budget limitations, water plant managers also need to improve performance and control of ageing infrastructure. This is an area where modernisation or retrofit solutions are not only cost-effective, but can also be fitted with the latest technologies to ensure enhanced performance. When products are fitted with sensors, layers of intelligence can be added, delivering remote monitoring capability which will assist operators in identifying breakdowns quicker and improving repair turnaround times.
Sarika Andhee, marketing leader, Field Services Anglophone at Schneider Electric.
WWW partnership
In the WWW segment, collaboration with equipment manufacturers is critical. This collaboration facilitates the transition from reactive to predictive maintenance, and equips WWW plants with the tools and knowledge to address issues before they become critical. Ultimately, maintenance should be factored into the daily operations of WWW plants. The future of clean, consistent water relies on a number of key factors, one of which is undoubtedly the proactive maintenance of infrastructure.
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