Water Distribution System Forensic Analysis

Facility and building managers often change workplaces and do not have the time or resources to understand the intricacies of the water distribution systems in the places they are managing. Building plans often do not exist or are not up to date, renovations and modifications are done but are not properly documented.

Facility Building

This leads to unknown pipework, deadlegs and areas of low-flow or no-flow which encourage biofilm and bacterial buildup. This in turn can lead to the risk of infection from Legionella and other waterborne pathogens. This public health risk also comes with a range of legal implications for organisations and individuals.

To remedy this and to help get visibility and transparency into the situation many sites are facing, Bion Systems offers a forensic analysis service.

Why Analyse Your Water Distribution System?

A huge cost saving opportunity

From a financial perspective, getting to know your water distribution system can help save a lot of money. In many institutions water leaks, water and energy-hungry appliances, unnecessary wash cycles, plumbing issues and overly high water temperatures go unnoticed, leading to hefty utilities bills which could otherwise be avoided.

If you are a facilities manager, ask yourself the following questions:

  • How much do I know about the water delivery system?
  • How old is the pipework?
  • What is the pipework made of?
  • Has it been modified?
  • Are my backflow prevention devices working as required?
  • Are my TMVs leaking cold water into the hot/warm water loop?
  • How do I know?
  • Do residents/patients complain about showers not getting warm, are there low flow areas in the system and where/why?
  • Are the hot water loops suffering from temperature excursions below 55 deg C thus providing a breeding ground for bacteria, increasing the risk of Legionella?
Pipes Blue
Woman Washing Hands in Medical Setting

Our Solution

Science Lab

Forensics provides detailed understanding of the health and effectiveness of the water distribution system.

At Bion Systems, we offer forensic analysis as either a one-off analytical service delivering a summary report, or  as a continuous validation and verification service.

We can tailor our forensic analysis service to your requirements.

Our Forensic analysis services include:

  • High resolution flow rate determination (logging)
  • Logging and monitoring of water conductivity and temperature
  • Analysis of dependency between flow and temperature and other water chemistry
  • Directional travel determination using advanced, non-invasive ultrasonic equipment
  • Pipe tracing using visual and thermal tracking
  • Identification of distal points and low-flow areas
  • Water chemistry testing at multiple points (pH, conductivity, hardness, alkalinity, chlorine residual)
  • Microbiology testing including HCC, Legionella, Pseudomonas and other pathogens
  • The forensic analysis report can be included as an essential component of your Risk Management process

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