The Benefits of Tank Inspection with Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs)

Benefits of Using ROVs for Water Tank Inspections

 

Continuous Water Availability


Traditional drain-down inspections require emptying the tank and temporarily shutting down water supply, leading to wasted water and the need for alternative water sources. Additionally, the tank must be disinfected to meet AWWA standards before being returned to service. By using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), the tank remains operational throughout the inspection.

 

Water Conservation


Conventional inspections often require draining a significant amount of water, whether for sediment removal or a full drain-down inspection. This process is both costly and time-consuming. ROVs can function inside a tank regardless of water levels, eliminating unnecessary water waste.

 

Cost-Effectiveness


Since ROV inspections do not require hiring an expensive dive team or draining the tank, they can significantly reduce costs. Inspections of elevated water storage tanks using ROVs can save up to 50% compared to traditional dive teams. If the inspection consultant owns its own ROV equipment, the savings can be even greater.

 

Faster Inspection Process

For municipalities managing multiple tanks, ROVs offer a much more efficient inspection process. While a dive team can typically inspect only one tank per day, an ROV can inspect up to three. Additionally, ROV inspections minimize wait times for both scheduling and reporting.

 

Enhanced Expertise and Reliability


ROV inspections are conducted by highly trained professionals, often certified by NACE International (NACE) and the American Welding Society (AWS). This ensures accurate, high-quality assessments of water storage tanks, giving communities peace of mind regarding their water infrastructure.

 

 

ROV tank inspections

 

Bringing it all Together

 

Utility operations include water tank inspections. Regular inspections ensure that the tanks are clean and operating properly, and a consistent inspection schedule allows for easy, ongoing maintenance, which saves money over time. The AWWA suggests inspecting every three to five years. Traditional visual inspections frequently necessitate the use of a separate dive team, which is both expensive and time-consuming. Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are assisting in bridging that gap.

 

How are ROVs Used for Water Storage Tank Inspections?

 

ROVs are compact, remotely operated watercraft equipped with cameras and sensors that provide real-time underwater visuals to monitoring screens.

These advanced robotic devices have revolutionized potable water storage tank inspections by making the process faster, safer, and more accurate—without requiring the tank to be drained.

With ROVs, maintenance teams can thoroughly assess the interior of a filled tank, eliminating the need for hazardous diving inspections that require specialized permits.

Today, ROVs are widely used for visual inspections, sample collection, and various other tasks, simplifying compliance with routine water tank maintenance and inspection requirements.

 

ROVs Make Water Tank Maintenance Easier

 

Prior to the use of ROVs, water tank inspection services were required to drain these massive vessels more frequently in order to properly inspect and maintain their interiors.

ROVs allow for nearly the same accuracy during inspections while not taking tanks offline for days or weeks at a time and sacrificing their contents.

While it may still be necessary to take tanks offline and drain them to perform certain types of water tank maintenance, the decision can be made more easily using an underwater ROV.

ROV inspections are a popular choice for owners of large water storage vessels because these remote-controlled, camera-carrying robotic devices make water tank maintenance and inspections faster, easier, safer, and less expensive.

We offer tried and tested services in Crockett, Grapeland, Kennard, Latexo, Lovelady, Ratcliff, HOUSTON, TEXAS. 

We also offer tried and tested services in Longbeach, and cities, towns, suburbs, localities, and places close to Long Beach such as Lakewood, Rossmoor, Lincoln Village, Seal Beach, Hawaiian Gardens, Los Alamitos, Cypress, Bellflower, Carson, La Palma, Paramount, Cerritos, East Compton, West Carson, Compton, Norwalk, Stanton, Westminster, Lomita, Downey, Lynwood, Rolling Hills Estates, Cudahy, CALIFORNIA.

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