Unplanned downtime isn’t random. It’s caused by hidden enemies within your process.
Every water or wastewater facility has one mission: keep operations running reliably, efficiently, and within compliance limits. But achieving that is harder than ever. Behind most shutdowns are familiar threats, the ones your team might already suspect, but may not fully understand or have the tools to control.
From poor power quality and generator instability to cavitation, water hammer damage, and the growing challenge of aging infrastructure, your operations face pressure on all sides. Add in extreme environments, outdated installation practices, and increasing demands for process control efficiency, and it’s clear: prevention is no longer optional. It’s essential.
Read on to identify the 7 most common enemies to water and wastewater uptime and learn how you can eliminate their impact with smarter motor control strategies and purpose-built drive technologies.
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Meet the 7 enemies of uninterrupted operations
These are the most common and most disruptive threats facing water and wastewater facilities today. Whether you're managing aging infrastructure or designing new systems, knowing how to identify and eliminate these enemies is essential for reliable, compliant operations..
Enemy 1: Poor power quality and generator instability
Unreliable power supply, aging equipment, and fragile generator systems can bring operations to a halt—threatening compliance and public confidence.
These enemies aren’t theoretical, they’re already showing up in your operations.
Download our playbook by filling out the form and uncover how to identify and eliminate the top threats to uninterrupted operations in water and wastewater systems.
Inside, you’ll learn how to:
- Reduce operational headaches caused by poor utility power
- Boost generator stability and prevent nuisance tripping
- Avoid spills, bursts, and breakdowns that threaten permits and licenses
- Extend the life of aging assets in extreme environments
- And more...
Gain insights into how ABB’s variable frequency drives, designed specifically for your industry, can optimize pump and blower processes while protecting your infrastructure from failure.
Whether you operate the system or design it, this guide helps you protect it
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Meet the technologies built to defeat the 7 enemies of downtime
ABB drives do more than move water—they protect it. With decades of experience in municipal and industrial water systems, ABB helps you build smarter, more reliable operations with drives that are engineered specifically for your challenges.
ACQ580 Drive
The versatile defender of water processes.
Tuned for pumps and blowers, the ACQ580 is your frontline defense against common mechanical threats. With built-in cavitation control, pressure management, and intelligent process features, it helps you minimize wear, prevent bursts, and run more efficiently. All without extra sensors or complexity.
Enemies it defeats: Cavitation, water hammer damage, extreme environments and process control inefficiency
Ultra-Low Harmonic (ULH) Drive
The power quality specialist
This specialist keeps your system grounded even when the grid isn’t. ABB’s ultra-low harmonic drive cleans up distorted power, prevents generator instability, and ensures smooth operation across sensitive equipment, helping you stay compliant and avoid unnecessary oversizing.
Enemies it defeats: Poor power quality and generator instability
ACQ580 + Protective Enclosures
The shield against harsh environments
Designed for environments where corrosion, moisture, or gas would normally take systems down. From coated boards to sealed cabinets, these drives are built to last where others fail, keeping your infrastructure safe from the elements.
Enemies it defeats: Extreme environments and aging infrastructure
ABB Application and Field Support
The expert by your side
ABB’s team and partners bring decades of water-specific expertise to every install, upgrade, and emergency. From remote diagnostics to best-practice guidance, we help you set up smarter and solve faster because support should never be an afterthought.
Enemies it defeats: Outdated installation practices and aging infrastructure
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Proven. Installed. Supported.
Protecting against flooding with smart pumping
Ensuring reliable draining of surface water to prevent flooding was the reason why Audebo pump station chose ABB’s variable speed drives (VSD) for their pumps. The drives offer a range of built-in pump functionalities for critical pumping requirements.
Saving water through smarter control
With rising energy costs, growing demand, and aging infrastructure, the water industry faces tough efficiency challenges. For Vitens, ABB variable speed drives offer a powerful tool to reduce water leakage and drive long-term performance.
Boosting resilience and saving energy
ABB drive solutions help Wellington Water achieve up to 10% energy savings while supporting environmental outcomes and network resilience across New Zealand’s largest water services provider.
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Let’s tackle your enemies together
Whether you're facing poor power quality, cavitation, or an aging system that just won’t stay online, you don’t have to go it alone. ABB’s team of water industry specialists can help you identify the root cause, recommend the right drive solutions, and support you from design to installation and beyond.
