A key component of water storage tank maintenance is performing periodic thorough inspections with which to observe tank conditions to tailor care and repairs.

Since emptying the tank each time can be costly and increase downtime as well as waste the tank contents, water storage tank maintenance services offer underwater dive and ROV tank inspections that can be performed more frequently and cost-effectively.

Tank owners hiring a water storage tank maintenance company to perform these inspections should consider the positives and negatives associated with each of these methods to choose the best one for their needs.

An Overview of Dive Inspections

When hiring a water storage tank maintenance service to perform a dive inspection, owners must confirm that the service employs divers who are not only experienced but also well-trained specifically in tank diving.

The divers must use the appropriate equipment and safety gear to execute a safe dive and there must be a safety plan in place should problems arise.

When performing water storage tank maintenance underwater inspections, divers must wear suits designed for use in potable water and suits as well as diving equipment must be appropriately disinfected according to approved safety standards.

The goal of dive inspections performed by water storage tank maintenance companies is to get a close look at the tank interior through human eyes.

Divers must be knowledgeable of the inner workings of these vessels, be able to appropriately interpret what they are seeing, and then relay their findings to the ground person collecting their data.

Care must also be taken to prevent sediment from affecting the inspection by taking the system offline early enough and divers making efforts to avoid stirring up bottom sediment during their dive.

An Overview of ROV Inspections

Remote-operated vehicle (ROV) inspections are those performed by water storage tank maintenance services using a remote-controlled drone that carries a camera.

They are an efficient, lower-cost solution for underwater water inspections as they transmit video when piloted within the interior of the vessel.

ROVs are especially useful in situations that are too dangerous for divers or when there are other reasons why water tank storage maintenance dives are not recommended.

However, since ROVs limit the data that is collected to only imagery that must then be interpreted and there is no physical inspection possible, ROV inspections may not be detailed enough.

When water storage tank maintenance companies require physical inspection and testing, dive inspections or draining the tank remain the only options.

Which Underwater Inspection Options Work Best and When?

Among the two options for underwater tank inspections offered by water storage tank maintenance services, both have their place in keeping up with tank inspections and maintenance.

Dive water storage tank maintenance inspections provide a more detailed, closer look at water tank interiors while also permitting physical inspection, but they are more costly, require greater planning, and can sometimes be dangerous.

ROV inspections, while being faster, safer, and more cost-effective, do not always provide the degree of detail required to make a full assessment.

Noting this, water storage tank maintenance companies may recommend alternating between these two methods while highlighting the importance of collecting accurate data.

Draining the tank is always the best option for the most accurate inspection, but quality data from dive and ROV inspections can reduce the need to drain the tank as often.