AIRAH ConferencePerth 2017

Water Treatment.

Getting What You Pay ForBy Veolia Water

CONFIDENTIAL

Zeetings invitation

Part 1: By a grumpy old man

Part 2: A new perspective

CONFIDENTIAL

Zeetings “what part of the industry are you from”

CONFIDENTIAL

Zeetings “How long have you been working in the industry”

CONFIDENTIAL

Zeetings “How much should an annual water treatment contract cost for 1 tower, 2 closed loops?”

A. No ideaB. $3000C. $4000D. $5000E. $6000

In the good old days))

• 30 years ago, I was a young impressionable Mechanical Engineering student at UNSW, and working for the Electricity Commission of NSW, at power stations on the NSW central coast.

• I learnt the value of professionalism.

• 20 years ago, I started a water treatment career with what is now called Veolia, as a service technician.

• I was proud of what I did.

Not me!

In the good old days))

• Back then, there were some water treatment companies with a large backing of professional experts behind the scenes, including Veolia.

• Service technicians stayed in water treatment as a career

• Property owners took care of their assets for the long term

• Assets were designed to last

• We all tried to do the right thing for corrosion, fouling, efficiency and a new thing called Legionaire’s Disease.

Asset owners paid a decent $,

and got a decent result .

But now))

Now))

• The big water treatment companies have walked away from the air conditioning business

• Air con water service technicians are often unskilled and not career focused

• Property owners use facility managers who use water subcontractors on cheapest price (often)

• Equipment is manufactured cheaply

• We spend more time on paper work to cover our assets than with real work.

Some air con owners pay peanuts,

and get monkeys .

And things go wrong..)

Last year was the worst on record for NSW with > 100 cases.

Australian Legionaire’s Disease statistics

Sydney CBD, Feb, 2016:

Legionaires disease – 9 cases, 1 died

“In such outbreaks, it’s not uncommon that the source is unable to be identified” – Dr Vicky Sheppeard – NSW Health Director of communicable diseases.

Independent Testing:199 samples taken

10 tested positive

2 had >1000cfu/mL

“Cooling towers may be cleaned even before they can be examined," - NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant

Sydney CBD, May, 2016:

Legionaires disease – 5 cases

Sydney Burwood, May, 2016:

Legionaires disease – 3 cases. 1 died.

It’s impossible to prove a source.

“Not in my backyard!“ – you say?

“It’s in everyone’s backyard!“ – I say.

3 in 4 Aussie infections were outside NSW.

CONFIDENTIAL

Zeetings “When was the last time you checked a chemdrum?”

What goes wrong?

• The frequency of Legionaire’s Disease cases is increasing

• Independent samplers are detecting Legionella where none was detected by the water tech companies.

• No-one is supervising the techs at site.

• Expensive ‘automated’ controllers are generating tonnes of ignored data.

• Non-Legionella issues, such as chiller efficiency & corrosion, are being overlooked.

Are we spending our money wisely?

What are the authorities doing?

• They are taking control out of the hands of the water treatment companies –dictating the water management schedule, focussing on public health.

• They are legislating that audits must be done.

• They are employing health officials and giving them unprecedented powers.

Our industry is losing control.

CONFIDENTIAL

Zeetings “Do you like authorities having more control?”

What should we all be doing?

• Contracts should be awarded on the basis of demonstrated professionalism, such as:

• Independent microbial sampling

• Proof of Competency, for the individuals servicing the systems

• Proof of chemistry – supply water analysis, customised programs, defined chemical usage rates

• Preventative maintenance programs

• The treatment companies should be supervised properly, from within, and by you, the customer.

Make sure you Get What You Pay For!

CONFIDENTIAL

Zeetings “Rank these in order of importance”

Is that possible?

• The water treatment expertise still exists.

• The technology has got better, and is great if its used right.

• Chemical products are cheaper due to competition.

• Some simple checks can be done by anyone on site, to ensure quality of service:

• A microbial sample costs $20 for HCC

• Drums – are they empty or full?

• Chemical usage on small towers:

• Inhibitor > 1 pail / month

• Ox’ Biocide 0.5 – 1 pail / month

• Non- ox biocide 2 pails / year

Part 2: A New Perspective

The industry also includes people like me.

• Graduated as a Mechanical Engineer from the University of Adelaide in SA.

• Worked in both mechanical and chemical water treatment industry for the past 12 years.

• I learnt the value of providing the right solution to clients.

• My job is my passion

• I am proud of what I do.

Not me!

Now we can))

• Use on-line and remote monitoring techniques, for water chemistry AND performance

• Optimise our water chemistry

• Still use water treatment professionals, with support from grey haired gurus behind the scenes

• Report with unprecedented detail, AND its easy to interpret

• Justify higher quality service on the backdrop of recent scares.

Are customers prepared to paid decent $,

To get decent results? .

For example))

Chemistry Controls: Veolia IL02• The controller will monitor Conductivity, pH, ORP,

temperature, corrosion rates, alarms, relay activation etc. It will also be fitted with tank level alarms.

• It has a modem in-built and will remotely communicate system parameters and highlight any out of specification levels. It is inclusive of an electronic mild steel corrosion monitor and copper corrosion monitor

“Water Cycle” water analysis and monitoring – optimising

chemistry

• Scaling projection

• Corrosion projection

Zeetings rank ox bios

Optional: A Lesson on Oxidising biocides

• Chlorine kills efficiently at pH < 8

• Bromines are OK at pH < 9

• Stabilised Bromine can’t be controlled

• Overdosed oxidisers are corrosive

• pH < 8 corrodes Stainless steel (SS)

• High chlorides corrodes SS

• Cooling tower natural pH = 8.5 - 9

So, if there’s stainless steel, we should keep the pH high and use high pH biocides, and control them.

The Veolia Hydrex Solution• What do we do to counter high pH cooling

tower – Mix Sodium Hypochlorite and sodium bromide on site, with ORP control with secondary non-oxidising biocide –Maximum Protection from Legionella AND corrosion minimisation

• Our service technicians are competent and understand the chemistry and the mechanics of cooling tower operation –Service Professionalism

• Sophisticated service reports and Onsite log book for all maintenance data -Thorough and informative reports

• 24/7 Online monitoring & troubleshooting Peace of mind

• And we train our client, so -It’s a transparent partnership.

Veolia Hydrex Service Reports

How we are different

If it ain’t green –it needs to be seen

Data logging

“We don’t just collect the data,

We analyse it!

How your assets should look?

– yes, we actually keep photographic records too

Honest microbial sampling –

Use independent samplers where available

Audit Reports

– On site inspection

How much should you pay?• $2000 for chemicals

• $800 for microbial testing

• $3000 for services (2 per month)

• $400 for annual audit and review

• $600: tower cleans

• $6800 total

For one tower,

and

2 closed loops

Excluding equipment spare parts or upgrades

Spend your money wisely!

And get:• The right chemicals

• at the right dose rate.

• Good servicing

• Good reporting

• Good performance