A Water Tank Coating That Reduces Biofilm

Ensuring that your water tank is supplying water safe to use is important as over time the structure can deteriorate and require repair or maintenance work. At COVAC we can supply and apply a specially formulated coating that will increase the longevity of your water tank and protect any liquid that is stored inside it. Having worked with large clients on various projects, we are confident that we can provide you with the highest quality water tank coating.

Our service isn’t simply to repair water tanks in the short term; we instead aim to offer a long term solution to retain the structural stability of your tank by offering a minimum 10 year guarantee on all work completed by ourselves. Our team are highly qualified and our ethos means that we are constantly striving to deliver more whilst also consistently improving our eco-friendly performance during each step of every project.

Providing safe, clean drinking water is important and unfortunately water tanks can suffer from corrosion and/or erosion. If your storage tank is deteriorating, you should contact our team so that we can help to combat this problem.

UK Hotel Water Tank before Relining by COVAC

UK Hotel Water Tank Before Relining

Our specially formulated 3M™ Scotchkote™ Urethane Coating 165PW has been developed so we are able to provide you with the best possible coating solution in order to reduce the presence of biofilm.

Often when a water tank is in need of repair, it will be because bacteria and micro-organisms have multiplied and have set up home in the tank. The tank can provide optimum living conditions, with corrosion/ erosion that can feed the bacteria in steel, concrete and GRP potable water tanks.

The coating we use at COVAC has been proven to resist the growth of bacteria, therefore reducing biofilm. Due to the quality of this coating, the tank will be easy to maintain in the future, with a smooth ceramic-tile like finish making cleaning easy and providing the optimum surface cleanliness in which the fresh water should be stored.

Prepared and Coated by COVAC

Prepared and Coated Using 3M Scotchkote Urethane Coating 165PW

If you are need of water tank coating, the team at COVAC offer the most effective solution. To find out more about our specially formulated coating that will reduce biofilm and the services that we offer, please browse the website today.

Antibacterial Protection and Water Tank Lining

Any water tank’s internal substrate can suffer from corrosion or erosion unless lined correctly.  Whilst many people may consider this to be a minor issue that requires a small amount of maintenance, ignoring the problem can be disastrous as a neglected water tank lining can encourage bacterial growth which inevitably contaminates the water supplied.  Often the corrosion/erosion is severe enough to produce the added risk of holes/splits and subsequent leaking.  At COVAC, we specialise in water tank linings using specially developed, scientifically proven products that can protect your water tank for a minimum of 10 years.

Why Do Water Tank Linings Corrode?

Water tank linings usually begin to corrode when an existing lining reaches the end of its useful life due to non-compliance, low film build, sub-film corrosion, general deterioration and subsequent de-bonding.  Often, non-approved paint such as bitumen has been used. These paints usually have carcinogenic properties that can filter into the water supply due to the high tar content.  All of these factors leave your water tank lining susceptible to extensive corrosion.

Corroded water tank

Corroded water tank

Why Is This A Problem?

If a corroding water tank is ignored, the internal steel substrate continues to corrode and will inevitably lead to micro aquatic bacterial growth including Legionella (which can potentially lead to Legionnaires disease), Pseudomonas and Biofilm.

Another serious concern is that extensive corrosion can lead to a weakened substrate and lining which is susceptible to leaking. Particularly with large water tanks, the consequences of a weakened substrate and lining can be catastrophic.

What Is The Solution?

Due to the growing concern with regards to water contamination, those responsible for water tanks are required to ensure they use water tank lining solutions that comply with the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme, Drinking Water Inspectorate regulations and ACoP L8. At COVAC, we can apply the specially developed 3M™ Scotchkote™ Solvent Free Urethane Coating 165PW which provides an economical and environmentally friendly solution that will give excellent protection against water tank corrosion.

Same water tank after full reline by COVAC

After Coating by COVAC using 3M Scotchkote Urthane Coating 165PW

For more information about how we can help to sustain the longevity of your water tank with our water tank lining products and service, don’t hesitate to call us at COVAC today on 08000 484609.

Does Your Cooling Tower Coating Comply with ACOP L8?

It is important to ensure that any structure used to store or process water meets current health and safety legislations particularly ‘Legionnaires’ Disease. The Control of Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems. Approved Code of Practice and Guidance’, often referred to as ACoP L8.  Prosecutions have been taken under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 against companies failing to meet these guidelines, therefore compliance with regards cooling tower coating is essential.

To understand why your cooling tower should be coated, you should firstly have an understanding of ACOP L8.  This code of practice has been put in place to help control bacteria growth in water systems, specifically legionella bacteria; a common problem in cooling towers that have either not been coated or the existing coating has started to break down, both scenarios allowing corrosion to occur and feed the bacteria.

Cooling tower before coating

Cooling tower before coating with 165PW

At COVAC we understand the importance of this code of practice and our methods and products comply with it. We are the UK’s Sole Approved Supplier and Applicator of 3M™ Scotchkote™ Urethane Coating 165PW which has been specially formulated for cooling tower coating and water tank coating and lining.

With our years of experience and expertise we can guarantee that we offer you the very best long term solution to make sure that you have the right measures in place to prevent corrosion and subsequent growth of bacteria in your cooling tower.  This cooling tower coating method coupled with regular cleaning and planned maintenance ensures that your cooling towers should meet the standards set out in ACoP L8.

Cooling tower after coating

Cooling tower after coating with 165PW

We believe that the key to our success is the ethos we have on working as a team, from supervisors to operators we work together to ensure you receive a high quality service. This is evident in the satisfied customers we have from a variety of high end businesses.

If you are concerned about ensuring you are following the relevant codes of practice contact COVAC to discuss the range of cooling tower coating that we can apply on your cooling tower or water tank. To find out more about our services, feel free to browse our website.

Long Lasting Water Tank Lining

The importance of storing water in clean, well maintained tanks cannot be stressed enough. After all, if the water is stored in tanks that have damaged and corroding inner linings, the water can become tainted and contaminated along with the risk of major damage should the tank develop a leak.  At COVAC we specialise in providing long-term protective solutions to combat the problem of corrosion within water storage tanks. Read on to explore the benefits of, and reasons for, arranging a professionally applied water tank lining.

Why does corrosion occur and why is it important to ensure an approved coating is used within water storage tanks?

Corroded Water Tank in Health Centre

Health Centre Water Tank

Corrosion of the internal substrate of water storage tanks can occur for many reasons.  Often the tank does not have any coating at all or is lined with a non-approved coating such as bitumen which, due to the tar content, has potentially carcinogenic properties that can contaminate the tanks water supply. Another reason is that the existing coating has simply come to the end of its useful life.

If corrosion is ignored and left untreated, the internal steel substrate of the water storage tank will be at risk of micro aquatic bacterial growth that leads to water contamination, such as the development of Legionella which can lead to an outbreak of Legionnaires disease.

What is the solution?

Health Centre Water Tank After Coating by COVAC

Health Centre Water Tank After Full Reline with 3M Scotchkote Urethane Coating 165PW

As a water supplier or owner of any water storage tank, you are obliged to ensure that the state of your water tank complies with all necessary regulations, such as those stated in ACOP L8. In order to ensure that your water storage tanks adhere to all guidelines, a coating that meets the standards of the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) and the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) is vital.

COVAC are the UK Approved Supplier and Applicator of 3M™ Scotchkote™ Urethane Coating 165PW, a specially formulated flexible, hard wearing, solvent-free water tank coating that has proven anti-corrosion properties.

To arrange for our team to carry out professional water tank lining that will ensure your water remains suitable for drinking and potable requirements don’t hesitate to call  COVAC today on 08000 484609.

Christmas Closing

James Corden, Adrian Emmett and all the staff at COVAC would like to wish all our Clients a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Our offices will be closed from 12 midday on Thursday 22nd December 2011 and will re-open at 9 am on Tuesday 3rd January 2012.

Professional Water Tank Refurbishment Company

When you are responsible for a water tank, you must ensure you take all necessary measures to keep it clean and free of bacterial growth. If you start to see signs of deterioration, it is imperative you take action immediately as this could lead to contamination and leaks, but who do you turn to in order to rectify the problem? When it comes to water tank refurbishment, the specialist team at COVAC are the number one company to call upon for a professional service.

Many believe that once a water tank shows signs of deterioration, the only viable solution is to replace the structure and that attempting to refurbish the existing tank is simply patching it up for the short term. When you choose our expert refurbishment service this simply isn’t the case and we use the very best methods and products to ensure an effective solution for the long term and back this up with a minimum 10 year guarantee.

Large Sectional Water Tank Before Repair & Relining

Large Sectional Water Tank After Repair & Relining

Before we begin the process of refurbishing a water tank, our highly trained team will carry out a thorough Risk Assessment of the tank to ensure that we are always working in full compliance with all regulations. We identify the problems that need addressing and provide the best long term solution.

There are many problems that can arise within water tanks. Often the tank substrate has no protective coating at all or if it does, it is usually a non (WRAS/DWI) approved bitumen type coating which has failed. Not only can this lead to extensive corrosion, it can also make the tank vulnerable to bacterial growth and leaking. To combat this, we use 3M™ Scotchkote™ Urethane Coating 165PW as it is the ultimate high performance coating to use when seeking a long-lasting, high quality solution and is WRAS and DWI approved for drinking and potable water.

Galvanised Water Tank Before Relining

Galvanised Water Tank After Relining

As the sole UK approved applicators of 3M™ Scotchkote™ Urethane Coating 165PW, we guarantee you the ultimate long term finished result as our knowledge of the product and application process is simply second to none.

If you would like to know more about the water tank refurbishment that COVAC are able to carry out, simply browse our website today and complete the simple contact form or give us a call.

Leaking From a Newly Installed GRP Water tank

COVAC were recently called into a University building in the north of England to survey a leaking GRP water tank that had only been installed for just over a year.  During the survey we discovered that the newly installed tank was leaking from various jointed areas on both tank compartments:

On inspection it was discovered that the initial tensioning of the panel fixings varied from loose to hand tight  and that the mastic used between the panels had already started to deteriorate and this, combined with the excessive structural movement of the plastic tank had led to leaking of the tank from these jointed areas.

Due to the poor quality of the existing mastic and substandard initial installation, COVAC recommended that the water tank fixings should be correctly tensioned and the internal of the tank fully relined incorporating specialist materials over the joints to prevent any future leaking.  As the one year guarantee from the manufacturer/ installer had just expired the Client gratefully accepted COVAC’s advice and we undertook the project issuing a full ten year guarantee on our labour and materials used upon completion.

Water Tank Coating Applicators

COVAC are specialists in the supply and application of a water tank coating as a protective method to help stop corrosion and erosion. It doesn’t matter what size your water tank is, we can provide a long term solution to help maintain your water retaining structures in prime condition. Our teams are all highly qualified and ensure that all work we complete is finished to the highest standards leaving our clients completely satisfied with our service.
We have a wealth of knowledge in this industry and having repaired many tanks throughout our 15 years in business, we know how important it is to use a cost effective, guaranteed solution for the coating of your water tank.

Problems can occur in all water tanks. Regardless of material it is manufactured from, each substrate has its own unique and common problems:

Steel:

Corrosion which provides food for micro aquatic bacterial growth (including Legionella), Pseudomonas and Biofilm. Larger, sectional tanks also suffer from a breakdown of the mastic used to join the panels together causing serious leaks.  If steel tanks have any coating/lining at all it is usually a non (WRAS/DWI) approved bitumen or a failed rubber/butyl type liner. See link below for more detailed information:-
http://www.covac.co.uk/metal-steel-tanks.php

GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic):

Black spore fungi and micro aquatic bacterial growth, even with regular cleaning, eventually breaks down the original gel coating of the substrate (sometimes in a matter of months) leading to osmotic blistering and fine cracks which in turn hide and protect further prolific bacterial growth.  Most GRP water tanks are made up in sectional panels and as with steel tanks, the mastic used for sealing the joints breaks down leading to extensive leaking.  Another common factor is corrosion, not of the substrate but the steel fastenings, bracings and bolts holding the panels together.  See link below for more detailed information:-
http://www.covac.co.uk/glass-reinforced-plastic-tanks.php

Concrete:

Over time, all unprotected concrete will absorb water and cause erosion of the substrate leading to blow holes and exposed aggregate.  An early sign of this is rust staining leaching through the concrete from the steel reinforcing bars.  Temperature changes will also cause the absorbed water in the substrate to expand and contract causing cracks, all these conditions are an ideal breeding ground for bacteria.  Underground concrete tanks can also suffer from ingress of untreated ground water and potential contamination.  See link below for more detailed information:-
http://www.covac.co.uk/concrete-tanks-and-reservoirs.php

Spray Application

Large Concrete Tank Inspection

All of these problems can be eliminated with our water tank coating service, giving you a cost effective solution by maintaining rather than replacing your tank with the added benefit of a minimum 10 year guarantee. Our 3M Scotchkote Urethane Coating 165PW has been proven to be resistant against the growth of bacteria and will help to prevent any corrosion on your water tank. This coating has excellent elongation properties allowing it to accommodate the structural movement of all water tanks and will leave your tank with a smooth, tough yet easy clean finish. By using this coating, you will reduce the risk of contamination and increase the lifespan of your water tank.

If you would like further information or a no obligation site survey regarding water tank coating, get in touch with us at COVAC where we can offer you a professional and reliable service using the very best water tank coating in the industry.

Steps to Avoid Water Tank Replacement

When you are responsible for a water tank, it is prudent to do all you can to ensure its longevity and compliancy so that water tank replacement will not be necessary. Here at COVAC, we are committed to providing our customers with long term solutions that ensure water tanks remain in full working condition. If you are worried that your water tank may not be protected against the factors that cause deterioration and leaking, please read on as we take you through the necessary steps to avoid costly and time consuming replacement.

It is a common misconception that replacing older water tanks is the only solution to deterioration and leaking, but in fact we are finding that more and more of our business is repairing and relining newer water tanks, some of which are only a few months old.  Replacement GRP water tanks, for instance, often only usually come with a 1 year guarantee (if any) and when problems develop after this time further cost and inconvenience is incurred having the problems rectified.  Water tanks manufactured in steel concrete or GRP repaired and relined by our specialist teams are issued with a minimum 10 year guarantee which covers erosion, corrosion and leakage.

18 month old GRP tank. Mould growth and leaking

18 month old GRP tank. Mould growth and leaking.

Ensuring your water tank is cleaned regularly and chlorinated appropriately forms only a part of ensuring a healthy environment for water within the tank; the process of providing hygienic water and avoiding water tank replacement begins with a high quality coating.

As the UK supplier and 3M approved applicator of 3M™ Scotchkote™ Urethane Coating 165PW, we provide a product and service unrivalled by our competitors. Since developing this innovative coating, our customers have seen fantastic results that have led to avoiding the costly replacement of their water tank whether it is manufactured in steel, concrete or GRP.

Repaired and relined with a 10 yr guarantee

Easy clean, durable finish with a 10 yr guarantee

Once 3M™ Scotchkote™ Urethane Coating 165PW has been applied, cleaning and maintaining is much easier as it forms a smooth and highly durable finish ensuring a safe environment within the tank and promoting hygienic water for the years ahead.

Fully repaired and relined with a 10 yr guarantee

Choosing COVAC to carry out a full assessment is the perfect step towards avoiding the costly replacement of your existing water tank. Our experience and expertise means we are able to provide you with accurate information as to the action you need to take; we will always repair and reline a water tank and offer a minimum 10 year guarantee as opposed to suggesting replacement water tank wherever possible.

If you would like to know more about how to avoid water tank replacement, browse our website today and discover the options available to you.

Applications of Cooling Tower Refurbishment Products

Untreated cooling towers can pose potential, serious health risks. Because cooling towers are used to transfer heat waste into the atmosphere, it is vitally important that the tower is regularly maintained to reduce the risk of contamination to people within the surrounding areas. Here at COVAC we specialise in professional cooling tower refurbishment complete with a minimum 10 year guarantee against future leaking and corrosion to give you peace of mind that your company are not jeopardising the health of the local community via your cooling tower.

Such are the growing health and safety concerns regarding the serious implications of untreated cooling tower use, the government have introduced legislation designed to encourage companies to ensure the safe operation of maintained and sufficiently treated cooling towers in order to reduce potential health risks.

Health and safety concerns can arise from a cooling tower that does not have a professionally coated internal surface. Many cooling towers are often coated in non-approved (WRAS/DWI) paint such as bitumen or epoxy. These coatings can provide minimal levels of chemical resistance and corrosion is inevitable.

The internal steel substrates of the cooling tower are at genuine risk of progressive corrosion with continued use and micro aquatic bacterial growth soon occurs inside the cooling tower. One common bacteria that can be found within cooling towers is Legionella – the bacteria that causes the potentially fatal Legionnaires disease.

Legionella bacteria are common in natural water courses such as rivers and ponds. Since legionella are widespread in the environment, they may contaminate and grow in other water systems such as cooling towers and hot and cold water services. They survive low temperatures and thrive at temperatures between 20-45°C if the conditions are right, e.g. if a supply of nutrients is present such as rust, sludge, scale, algae and other bacteria.

When water carrying heat waste passes through the contaminated cooling tower, potentially deadly bacterium is carried through and transferred into the atmosphere posing a serious risk to the welfare of people living and working in the surrounding areas.

At COVAC we can help you to maintain your cooling tower to ensure you are not putting lives at risk. Our specialists can refurbish your cooling tower using the specially formulated 3M™ Scotchkote™ Urethane Coating 165PW. This WRAS and DWI approved solvent-free technology provides a long-lasting cooling tower coating with an easy clean, ceramic tile-like finish, meaning that future cleaning and maintenance is much easier and quicker thus preventing the build up of the nutrients that feed the potentially fatal bacteria.

If you would like to learn more about our professional cooling tower refurbishment services, please don’t hesitate to call our team at COVAC today on 08000 484609.