Nicholasville WTP Raw Water Intake Pump Control Valve

We were contacted by Nicholasville Water about a pump control valve at the raw water intake that was failing.  The existing valve was an electrically operated industrial style ball valve with a resilient seat.  During it’s short time in service, the valve had started leaking past it’s seat.  The pipe coming from the pump control valve up to the plant is at a steep incline with the top of the pipe roughly 400 feet above the elevation of the raw water pump and pump control valve.  With the valve leaking as it was, this line was draining every time they shutoff the pump.  Draining this 24 inch line every time the pump shutoff was a huge loss of water for the plant.  It also allowed this massive amount of water to come back on the pump, causing significant wear and shortening the life expectancy of the pump itself. 

As a solution, we recommended and supplied a rotary cone valve with monel seating and electric motor operator.  The characteristics of the cone valve and its’ actuator, created smooth efficient pump control as well as offering a full open port for minimal headloss.  The metal seats in the cone valve provide durable and reliable seating, ensuring a proper seal every time even with small solids or deposits often seen in raw water that can cause problems with resilient seated valves.