Municipal water and wastewater treatment plants depend on electric motors to drive essential equipment like pumps, aerators, and other critical systems. These motors endure heavy workloads and harsh environmental conditions while operating under tight budgetary constraints.
A comprehensive preventative maintenance program significantly extends motor lifespans and minimizes downtime of these critical system parts. Applying preventative best practices reduces operational costs.
Piedmont Electric Motors offers municipalities the expertise, tools, and inventory solutions to ensure optimal motor performance and reliability. We recommend the following proactive best practices for maintaining industrial motors and parts.
Electric motors are the backbone of municipal operations, but they are particularly vulnerable to failure due to wear, particularly under the challenging environments in which many machines operate.
Some of the issues and conditions these machines may experience include:
Drinking water and wastewater infrastructure systems are critical aspects of a healthy environment and the ability for these systems to be resilient is essential. The University of Texas Department of Civil Engineering conducted an evaluation and analysis based on over 200 existing publications to determine current challenges in today’s water infrastructure.
The results of their report, Resilience in Water Infrastructures: A Review of Challenges and Adoption Strategies, reveal that climate change, aging infrastructure, lack of infrastructure capital, population growth, improper maintenance of water infrastructure, and rapid urbanization are the most frequently cited challenges.
Under these conditions, a proactive approach using preventative maintenance to maximize motor lifespan is good common sense—and a necessity.
OpenGov defines preventative maintenance as “a strategic approach to maintenance that involves regular, systematic maintenance activities, including inspections, cleanings, and repairs.” Ultimately, the goal is to head off equipment failures before they happen. The benefits of this preventative maintenance include:
When it comes to critical municipal infrastructures, an ounce of prevention really is worth “a pound of cure.” Preventative maintenance can cut costs by up to 18% while generating a 400% return on your investment. Research has shown every dollar invested in preventive or predictive maintenance can save up to five dollars on unforeseen expenses. For most government organizations, this is quite literally money in the bank.
Municipalities can implement these best practices to avoid unexpected motor failures:
Municipalities face a variety of unique challenges in maintaining their motors, often requiring tailored solutions to ensure consistent performance.
For example, environmental factors are a significant concern, particularly in water and wastewater plants where motors often experience high moisture levels and corrosive elements. These harsh conditions accelerate the degradation of motor components, while the presence of dirt and dust can lead to inefficiency and overheating. Such factors demand specialized maintenance practices to mitigate their impact.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “water utilities face challenges in recruiting, training, and retaining employees. These challenges are exacerbated with roughly one-third of the water sector workforce eligible to retire in the next 10 years.” With fewer technicians available to manage routine inspections and repairs, municipalities must prioritize tasks and adopt efficient strategies to maintain their operations effectively.
Adding to these difficulties is the issue of aging infrastructure. Older motors often require more frequent repairs and maintenance to remain operational, yet finding replacement parts for outdated equipment can be time-consuming and costly. This situation creates additional burdens for municipalities already operating under tight budgetary and resource limitations, underscoring the importance of innovative and adaptable maintenance solutions.
Piedmont offers various services to help municipalities overcome their maintenance challenges. By providing access to a nearby inventory of diverse motor lines, Piedmont ensures municipalities can quickly source replacements without maintaining a costly inventory of critical spare parts. Their repair expertise extends to motors up to 4,000 HP, often exceeding factory specifications using advanced diagnostics and upgraded materials. This approach reduces costs and enhances motor efficiency and longevity.
In addition to repairs, Piedmont provides customized consulting services to help municipalities optimize their operations. Their expert team advises on motor selection, maintenance schedules, and environmental adaptations, such as installing ventilation systems to mitigate overheating or contamination. For municipalities dealing with unique environmental challenges, Piedmont also offers custom fabrication, including corrosion-resistant motor housings and tailored conveyor system solutions.
Should a crisis arise, Piedmont also provides rapid response emergency support, with quick turnarounds on repair or replacement. This service is particularly valuable for reducing downtime and helping municipalities deal with supply chain delays for new motors and parts.
Municipalities must evaluate whether to repair or replace their equipment when faced with motor issues. Repair is often the best choice when the motor’s structure is sound and repair costs are less than half the cost of replacement. Repairs provide a critical alternative during supply chain delays, ensuring uninterrupted operations. On the other hand, replacement may be necessary for extensively damaged motors or when newer models offer significant energy efficiency or compliance benefits.
Piedmont supports municipalities in making these decisions with expert evaluations and cost-effective repair services. Their ability to upgrade components during the repairs process often results in motors that perform better than new ones, giving municipalities a reliable and economical option for maintaining key infrastructures. Repair services offer a valuable alternative when new parts are in short supply, ensuring that municipalities can continue operations without waiting for extended periods for replacement motors.
Municipalities must adhere to stringent safety and environmental regulations. OSHA mandates regular inspections for motors and associated equipment, while environmental laws often require specific materials and processes to reduce emissions and chemical discharge.
Piedmont Electric Motors helps municipalities meet these requirements through thorough inspections and detailed reporting. Environmentally safe lubricants and materials are used, ensuring compliance while maintaining the highest operational standards.
Municipalities can take the following steps to build an effective preventative motor maintenance program:
Preventative maintenance is essential for municipalities to extend the lifespan of their electric motors, reduce costs, and prevent the inconvenience of operational disruptions.
With the expert team at Piedmont, municipalities can implement effective maintenance programs to navigate complex infrastructure challenges and ensure uninterrupted service to the communities they serve. Municipalities can access reliable solutions, comprehensive support, and all the tools needed to maximize motor performance and efficiency by partnering with Piedmont Electric Motors.
Contact us to see how we can help you maintain the motors and pumps critical to your municipal water supply and waste treatment plants.