Company: Swindon Hotel
Industry: Hotels & Hospitality
Location: England
Case Study
Overview
A 156-bedroom hotel in Swindon, England, had struggled for years with persistent Legionella and hard water issues. Despite numerous mitigation efforts, including chemical flushing, water softeners, and dead leg removal, the hotel regularly faced Legionella counts exceeding 100 CFU.
Sidon Water partnered with the hotel’s water treatment company and maintenance team to implement its innovative Integro™ technology, aiming to address historical limescale deposits and the associated biofilm contributing to Legionella problems.
Key Issues
The hotel’s challenges stemmed from a combination of factors:
1.Legionella Proliferation:
- Regular readings above 100 CFU posed significant health risks.
- Traditional measures, including chemical flushing and water softeners, were ineffective in maintaining safe levels.
2.Hard Water Issues:
- Water analysis revealed a hardness level of 296 PPM, leading to significant limescale accumulation.
- Years of historical limescale deposits provided a habitat for biofilm, exacerbating Legionella growth.
3.Operational Inefficiencies:
- Limescale build-up in plate heat exchangers hindered heat transfer efficiency, preventing water from reaching optimal temperatures.
- Frequent equipment breakdowns increased downtime and maintenance costs.
- Routine tasks like descaling taps and showerheads consumed excessive maintenance time.
Despite extensive efforts to address these issues, including the removal of known dead legs and regular flushing of the system, the problems persisted, requiring a more comprehensive solution.
Our Solution
Sidon Water’s Integro™ technology was selected to address the root causes of these challenges. The Integro™ system, designed to prevent and remove limescale deposits, was installed at strategic points in the hotel’s water system:
- Cold Main: To treat incoming water and prevent further limescale formation.
- Cold Supply Outlet from Water Tanks: To ensure the cold-water distribution system was free from limescale.
- Hot Water Return Line (before Plate Heat Exchangers): To remove existing limescale deposits and improve heat transfer efficiency.
Key Features of Integro™ Technology:
- Limescale Removal and Prevention: The Integro™ system breaks down existing limescale and prevents new deposits by injecting electrons into the water.
- Reduction of Biofilm: The disruption of limescale removes the habitat for biofilm, reducing Legionella levels.
Summary & Results
The implementation of Sidon Water’s Integro™ technology resulted in transformative improvements for the hotel:
- Legionella Control:
- For the first time in years, quarterly Legionella testing consistently showed levels below 100 CFU, even during periods of closure due to COVID-19.
- Operational Improvements:
- Enhanced heat transfer efficiency in the plate heat exchangers.
- Reduced maintenance time for cleaning taps, showerheads, and other equipment.
- Cost Savings:
- Fewer equipment breakdowns and lower energy consumption contributed to significant financial savings.
The project was deemed a complete success by the hotel’s engineering department and Director of Engineering, who praised the Integro™ system for its role in addressing longstanding issues. Sidon Water’s solution has not only provided effective Legionella control but also reduced maintenance demands and improved overall efficiency, setting a new standard for water treatment solutions in the hospitality sector.
To learn more about how Sidon Water’s Integro™ can transform your water systems, visit www.sidonwater.com.
Contact Details
- Saltire Centre, Pentland Ct, Glenrothes KY6 2DA
- +44(0)1592 407807
- enquiries@sidonwater.com
