Weighing up the different approaches to water management during construction can be overwhelming.
To help customers navigate water management we answer these frequently asked questions, and more.
Water management equipment: hire or buy?
When water needs to be removed from site, one of the first decisions many customers face is whether to buy equipment and manage this process in-house, or partner with a water management specialist. Whilst purchasing equipment is a good investment for some businesses, owning equipment and delivering these services also comes with considerable risk.
“Many customers find that a ‘one size fits all’ approach won’t work, because the equipment they purchase for one project won’t always meet the needs of the next,” explains Dheerej Pillai, Coates Product Specialist – Pumps and Shoring.
In addition to water issues, construction customers are typically dealing with a range of other challenges on site. By hiring rather than buying water management equipment, customers can outsource the risk and investment of equipment ownership; the time and expertise to manage water issues; the investment in maintenance and process management; and accountability for the overall success of the solution. “Ultimately, outsourcing allows customers to focus on other priority areas,” says Dheerej.
What happens when water is unexpected?
Sometimes managing water is a planned exercise, but there are times when the need to remove or treat water comes as a surprise. Major weather events can create water hazards on construction sites, and geotechnical studies sometimes reveal contamination that customers weren’t expecting. Very few customers faced with these situations have the right equipment available on site, and the expertise to quickly and effectively deal with these issues.
The two solutions customers in this predicament have, are to hire a liquid handling provider to remove the water from site, or work with a water management specialist to remove and/or treat the water. Performing de-watering and water treatment is usually more cost-effective – particularly when customers are dealing with water volumes in excess of 20,000L.
“With Australia’s largest range of dewatering and water treatment equipment and over 160 branches, Coates can quickly get to site to resolve water issues,” says Dheerej. “In fact no one else in Australia can match the speed and comprehensive support Coates offers to customers in this space.”
One supplier or many: what is the lowest risk approach?
Another critical part of designing a water management solution is weighing up working with one supplier, against outsourcing individual project deliverables to individual providers.
“In my experience when customers are faced with this choice they find it much easier to work with a single supplier who can meet all of their needs and take accountability for getting the job done,” says Dheerej. “This approach also gives customers the assurance that when issues arise there will be no finger pointing – issues will simply be resolved.”
What assurances come with outsourcing water management?
Water management can be a complex process, requiring a diverse set of specialist skills and experience. “By outsourcing water management, customers have access to the right expertise,” says Dheerej. “They can also create a safe and efficient working environment for their construction teams whilst water management is underway,” says Dheerej. Other assurances that come from outsourcing water management include:
For ultimate peace of mind, Coates offers a 24x7 project management approach and telemetry solutions to monitor performance and provide immediate notification in the event of pump failure. This allows technicians to be back on site quickly resolving faults and getting systems back on track.
For water management advice or support on your next project reach out to Coates – or find your local branch.
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