Isle’s team is bringing our technical expertise to address contamination issues and design a long-term solution for an industrial water treatment challenge.
A global manufacturer acquired a storage warehouse with a plan to repurpose it for production. In order to do so, the site needed upgraded water treatment to meet strict quality requirements, particularly for chlorine removal. With limited technological options available, GAC filtration was the clear winner. However, due to:
- stagnation within the system,
- The presence of high TOC in the incoming water,
- The presence of non-compliant materials
- The non-hygienic design of the current treatment
- The presence of many dead-ends on the piping
The GAC system ended up creating microbial contamination once installed and up and running. The company urgently needed a reliable fix with only months before production launch.
The manufacturer had worked with us in the past and trusted Isle’s ability to deliver under pressure. They commissioned us to diagnose the failure and quickly design a workable solution. Working as an extension of the client’s team, we acted as their water experts, supporting business continuity and helping stabilise the existing system. We were also engaged to develop a long-term redesign that reduced the financial risk of water contamination, a project currently in progress. Alongside benchmarking and supplier management, we are helping the client select a better treatment train and develop a basic engineering package.
Benefits of Approach
Longstanding partnership: Having worked together many times, our team understood our client’s processes and needs. The client saw us as their in-house water experts rather than external suppliers.
Critical technical delegation: The client could rely on Isle to make critical technical decisions and review complex supplier documentation. With strict water-quality demands and high financial risk, they trusted our judgement.
Rapid decision making: As a result of this close relationship, our team could assess options quickly and recommend actions to senior leadership. Decisions involving £150–200k investments were approved and implemented without delay.
Specialist Services Involved
Supplier Management: Isle has a strong supplier network which allowed us to quickly reach out to 20 vendors. We received swift responses from each confirming compliance with specifications. These relationships, combined with technical insight and market knowledge, all helped to cut evaluation time to a minimum.
Internal Knowledge: Years of work with similar manufacturers (and multiple sites within this business) gave us deep insight into similar water quality requirements. This meant we were able to provide guidance based on previous experience; this, in turn, reduced decision-making.
Technical Decision Support: Acting as the client’s water expert, we provided recommendations on major technical decisions. Our ability to interpret complex treatment data and assess risks meant we could guide the client despite tight timelines.
Outcomes
Treatment Pathway: Isle addressed the manufacturer’s treatment challenges. We are now working on a longer-term project to identify and implement the most effective treatment train. This has given the client confidence that both their short and long-term risks are under control.
Integrated Delivery: Our team is developing a basic engineering package with an external consultant. The package will include process flow diagrams, utility layouts, equipment lists and costing, and control strategies. This will allow the client to move from concept to implementation without losing momentum.
Financial clarity: Our team’s assessment allowed us to confirm possible treatment options and provide transparent CAPEX/OPEX estimates and timelines. This ensures the client has a clear view of costs and next steps.
Faster Progress: We are advancing the project beyond a typical consultancy scope by pushing the design to an engineering-ready stage. This ensures the client will stay on track for installation and commissioning targets despite earlier setbacks.
Tender Support: We are supporting the entire tender process by reviewing technical specifications, assessing supplier suitability and recommending preferred vendors. Our track record with similar projects has strengthened the client’s trust in our approach.
Key contact
For enquiries and further information, please contact Antonia Frisia, Technology Consultant at Isle Utilities.