Industrial companies are now facing the possibility of unlimited fines for pollution incidents, making it crucial for them to take proactive measures to avoid costly breakdowns and environmental harm. One effective way to achieve this security is by outsourcing pump maintenance to specialist contractors, which not only reduces risks but can also result in long-term cost savings, according to Guy Fitzpatrick, Industry & Infrastructure Director at Xylem UK.

In December 2023, the UK government lifted the £250,000 cap on penalties for environmental pollution, meaning that in the event of a pollution incident, the Environment Agency now has the authority to impose unlimited fines on firms holding environmental permits. This includes industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, and water and wastewater. For industrial companies, pump failures caused by clogging, damaged components, corrosion, and misalignment can lead to not just expensive callouts and downtime, but also leaks and spills that could trigger environmental violations and criminal charges.

However, the majority of pump failures are preventable with a comprehensive maintenance and service schedule that ensures systems are regularly inspected and potential issues are addressed proactively.

Despite this, budget limitations, recruitment issues, and skill gaps can make it challenging for overburdened maintenance teams to implement an effective schedule, especially when they are responsible for managing multiple sites and often work on a reactive basis.

As a result, more companies are opting for planned, preventative maintenance agreements, which allow them to outsource pump maintenance to a specialist contractor. These agreements typically include a tailored schedule that minimizes the risk of unplanned breakdowns, callouts, or safety incidents, while maximizing pump efficiency to reduce energy consumption and lower overall costs over time.

When establishing such an agreement, a specialist contractor assesses site-specific factors and budget to create a customized maintenance plan. Xylem’s extensive experience in maintaining thousands of pumps across the UK and Ireland suggests the following general guidelines:

• If there have been no callouts in the past 12 months and the system has been operating smoothly, an annual service may suffice.
• If one or two callouts have been needed in the previous year, six-monthly or quarterly services are recommended.
• More than five callouts per year typically indicates an underlying issue that needs resolution, followed by quarterly services and ongoing evaluations.

Entering into a maintenance agreement with a specialist contractor ensures 24/7 access to a larger pool of skilled engineers who are well-versed in the latest health and safety regulations. Additionally, Xylem engineers come equipped with fully stocked service vehicles, advanced tools, and technologies, as well as an inventory of critical spare parts.

This becomes especially important as there is a growing trend of companies using non-genuine spare parts, which might offer short-term savings but fall short in delivering long-term reliability and safety. By entering a planned maintenance agreement with an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) like Xylem, businesses ensure the use of genuine parts, engineered for industrial applications, which helps prevent pump failures, keeps systems operational, and safeguards against the risk of unlimited fines or legal consequences.