VR600 ensures water supplies stay pure for Buxton customers

Panton McLeod Press releases

Severn Trent Water has been using the latest underwater technology to ensure its customers in Buxton get the purest possible supplies at the tap.

The company has been working together with independent Nottingham firm and water quality engineering experts Panton McLeod to ensure a service reservoir in Buxton remains clean for the tens of thousands of households that it supplies in the region.

The facility is one of a network, often hidden from public view, that are involved in delivering drinking water to millions of homes and businesses across the Midlands region.

Despite being out of sight, the large water containers have to be maintained to the highest standards. Traditionally such tanks could only be closely inspected or cleaned if they were emptied to allow experts inside – a time-consuming process that can prove costly and increase the risk of customers being left without water for short periods.

But now forward-thinking Severn Trent Water has teamed up with Panton McLeod to carry out a routine clean of the Corbar Service Reservoir using a specialist underwater submarine called the VR600.

Panton McLeod, which has offices in Nottingham and the Scottish Borders, is one of the best-known names in the industry, working with the biggest water companies on the inspection, cleaning and repair of drinking water structures.

It used a remotely operated mini-sub – or ROV unit – to carry out an initial inspection of the reservoir and then the larger tracked VR600 to perform a routine clean of the service reservoir in Buxton. By using the innovative equipment, Panton McLeod ensured that the cleaning work was completed without any need to take the reservoir out of service or with any risk of interrupting supplies to consumers.

Paul Henderson, Operations Director with Panton McLeod, said: “The only other option other than using the remotely-operated machines was to drain the reservoir and have workers actually going into the tank to clean it.

“Our technology means we can carry out a thorough clean while ensuring the supply through the reservoir is totally unaffected. We remotely control the VR600 and it cleans the tank while the water is still in use.

“We worked closely with Severn Trent Water to ensure the work went smoothly and we were delighted with how quickly and efficiently we were able to carry out this job. It has ensured that Severn Trent saved a lot of time and money.

“Cleaning jobs like this are routine operations to help ensure that consumers get the best water quality from the tap and to ensure that there is no chance of the water becoming discoloured.

“By using our mini-submarines, we were able to carry out the cleaning work quickly and thoroughly. We’re delighted to have completed another successful operation for Severn Trent Water, which is one of our biggest clients in the UK.”