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Utilities Business Review: Specials Magazine
Aquadrone Marine is pioneering a smarter way to safeguard communities’ potable water infrastructure. Founded by experts from construction, coatings and commercial diving, it was built on a bold idea to deploy remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to inspect and clean potable water reservoirs. It works with a diverse range of clients, from utilities and government agencies to homeowners, providing cleaning and maintenance that is completely unobtrusive to operations. Its mission is to keep clean water flowing while eliminating the hazards and inefficiency of traditional underwater maintenance methods. Across the world, millions of gallons of water are stored in reservoirs susceptible to biofilm, silt accumulation, and coating deterioration that can jeopardize the water purity. Historically, maintenance service involved deploying divers and service interruptions, making it dangerous and time-consuming. Aquadrone Marine provides an intelligent alternative built around robotics and real-world expertise. Its remotely operated vehicles glide through reservoirs, removing sediment and capturing high-definition footage that helps engineers maintain water systems without ever shutting them down. “Most homeowners or clients don’t even notice we’ve been there,” says Buck Storm, co-owner. “The only difference is cleaner water.” Aquadrone Marine has two ROV variants built to meet the distinct challenges in reservoir maintenance. The primary ROV functions as a robotic vacuum, removing sediment from the tank floor with precision. It minimizes turbidity and helps reduce the possibility of water contamination during cleaning. Dual high-definition cameras continuously record footage, providing engineers and operators with a clear view of conditions without entering the water. For a small community struggling with iron biofilm that discolors water and damages plumbing, Aquadrone Marine performs scheduled maintenance, often twice a year. It offers them an affordable and proactive way to sustain water quality without having to spend millions on a filtering system. The second ROV is built for inspection and exploration. Compact and highly maneuverable, it operates like a miniature submarine, capable of moving through pipes and accessing confined areas within large tanks. The unit captures 4K video with 330 degree coverage, helping teams see every surface and structure in real-time. Engineers can monitor the inspections remotely, and use the data to plan maintenance, anticipate repairs and make informed decisions.
Utility Construction Services
National Pipeline Contractors provides a full line of utility construction services with expertise in trenching and digging for utility relocation and construction excavation needs. Focusing on wet and dry utilities, maintenance, and repair, it is committed to providing the services needed to build safe and sturdy infrastructure for installing, relocating, or rehabilitating underground utilities. Treating each client as a partner, it assists them with design, mitigating risks and complexities of underground construction, developing budgets, and managing costs and schedules. “Having National Pipeline Contractors by their side accelerates projects for our clients. Our ability to identify problems before and during a project allows them to minimize unnecessary delays and cost overruns,” says Dustin Schwei, co-founder of National Pipeline Contractors. Building partnerships with clients develops mutual trust and drives growth. The scope and caliber of its offerings are a testament to the premium quality services clients can expect. [CIOS_QUOTES_REPLACE] It stays above competitors by delivering consistent and competitive numbers. Equipped with an unlimited bid license, the company can take on any project, regardless of the size and magnitude. The ability to deploy the best-suited team and crew members for each project ensures timely completion. National Pipeline Contractors firmly believes that the faster it completes a project, the sooner clients can generate revenue. This helps them minimize project costs. However, the timeliness does not deter the quality of its work. Its team of professionals adheres to the strictest safety standards and follows the local and national codes, as well as OSHA’s special requirements.
CXO INSIGHTS
The future of Electric Utilities
Roderick Conwell, Senior Director of Operations, The AES Corporation
Unlocking a Clean Energy Future
Bill Quinlan, President of Transmission and Offshore Wind Projects, Eversource Energy
Championing Strategic Leadership in Water and Forest Sustainability
Elvy Barton, Water and Forest Sustainability Senior Manager, Salt River Project
Fulfilling Regulatory Compliance with Technology
Brett Adamcik, System Integrity and Reliability Director, CenterPoint Energy [NYSE: CNP]
Diversity Equity and Inclusion Leaders are the Catalysts for Change
Emily Gambacorta, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Central Hudson
Investment is the key to a clean energy future
Leslie Myers, Product Manager, Renewables, Puget Sound Energy
Creative Procurement Solutions
Ken Jones, Senior Director of Business Services, EPB
IN FOCUS
Future of Utilities Asset Monitoring Driving Reliability Forward
Utilities asset monitoring trends emphasize the use of smart technology, sustainability, and resilience, ensuring reliable service delivery while improving efficiency, safety, and long-term performance.
Evolving Market for Tank Inspection and Cleaning Services
Water tank inspection and cleaning services protect public health, extend the lifespan of infrastructure, and enhance water quality by combining innovative technologies, regulatory standards, and efficient service models.
EDITORIAL
The Next Frontier in Water Tank Maintenance
Technological innovation is transforming the once labor intensive water tank inspection and cleaning process into a precise, intelligent operation. In this edition, we explore a new era of proactive water infrastructure maintenance where safety, efficiency and hygiene naturally converge.
Robotics navigate confined spaces with remarkable agility, capturing high-resolution imagery and identifying structural weaknesses or contamination that human inspection might miss. Technicians no longer need to physically enter tanks, reducing safety risks while allowing them to focus on interpreting data and shaping maintenance strategies that deliver greater long-term value.
IoT-enabled sensors further enhance oversight by continuously tracking water quality, structural integrity and biofilm formation. Real-time data flows into AI-powered platforms that analyze trends, predict emerging issues and recommend targeted interventions. Automated cleaning systems integrate mechanical scrubbing with precision chemical dosing, ensuring thorough sanitation without interrupting supply. UV treatment and advanced filtration solutions elevate hygiene standards, removing microorganisms with efficiency and minimal environmental impact.
Data-driven insights make maintenance deeply personalized. Each tank receives a tailored cleaning schedule rooted in actual conditions rather than fixed intervals. Operators gain the ability to generate comprehensive reports that highlight improvements, risks and regulatory compliance. Remote monitoring dashboards give facility managers instant visibility into system performance, empowering them to make informed decisions from anywhere.
Human expertise remains central, guiding the interpretation of complex data and refining interventions with practical judgment and regulatory understanding. Technology strengthens this expertise, creating a unified approach where skilled professionals and intelligent systems work in harmony.
By embracing robotics, smart sensors, AI and advanced automated cleaning technologies, service providers ensure every tank is maintained with foresight and precision. We hope this edition of Utilities Business Review helps you connect with partners who can advance your water infrastructure maintenance goals.
