Prior to the implementation of the prevailing preventive maintenance program, the Water and Wastewater Operations and Maintenance Team in Isaac Regional Council (IRC) were primarily engaged in reactive maintenance, responding to repairs resulting from frequent breakdowns and a lack of preventive maintenance plans. The Operations and Maintenance Team routinely logged approximately 40 repair work orders per month through the internal system, supplemented by countless requests received via calls, emails and face-to-face interactions 24/7. The absence of a structured preventive maintenance program, coupled with inadequate condition assessments for aging infrastructure, compelled the prioritisation of rectifying only emergent operational issues.
The initiation of a preventive maintenance program for assets in eight (8) Water Treatment Plants, six (6) Wastewater Treatment Plants and three (3) Recycled Water Treatment Plants occurred predominantly since 2022. Subsequently, a comprehensive review, development, and acknowledgment of a dozen contracts ensued, with plans for further tender release in 2024. The integration of project ownership, collaboration and commitment within the Operations and Maintenance Team underpins this implementation journey. This paper outlines the developmental trajectory of the preventive maintenance program, detailing its status and outcomes.
Author
Seungchan Bang, Maintenance Planner, Isaac Regional Council