Don’t Let This Happen to Your Wastewater Equipment

Wastewater Skimmer Arm Repair: Lessons from a 30-Year-Old Problem

In the world of industrial wastewater treatment, longevity is great—until it isn’t. Case in point: a skimmer arm that ran for 30 years without frequent service or inspections. When it finally failed, it wasn’t pretty. The steel was fatigued, the structure was compromised, and an emergency repair was the only option.

While we love a good challenge, this whole situation could have been avoided with simple preventive maintenance. Here’s what happened, what Crane Engineering's Wastewater Team did to fix it, and what you can learn from it.

The Problem: When “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” Backfires

The skimmer arm—responsible for removing floating debris in an industrial wastewater clarifier—had been running without frequent inspections or service. The result?

❌ Fatigued structural steel that had reached its breaking point
❌ Emergency downtime that disrupted operations
❌ Costly, last-minute repairs that could have been prevented

The Fix: A Skimmer Arm Overhaul

Our team arrived on-site and got to work:

✅ Locked out the clarifier and signed into the confined space
✅ Set up scaffolding and leveled the structure for safe access
✅ Cut and removed the old, failing skimmer arm and all associated supports
✅ Installed new stainless-steel supports, brackets, and a doubler plate for reinforcement
✅ Made additional improvements, including L-brackets for easier balancing and rubber for better skimming efficiency

What You Can Learn from This

We love saving the day, but reactive repairs are always more expensive and disruptive than proactive maintenance. Here’s what we recommend to keep your skimmer arm (and other critical wastewater equipment) running smoothly:

✔ Annual Draining & Cleaning: This alone could have prevented the structural failure.
✔ Regular Inspections: Catching small issues before they become big ones saves time and money.
✔ Material Upgrades: Stainless steel replacements offer longer life and better durability.

The bottom line? A little preventive maintenance goes a long way. Don’t let a 30-year oversight turn into an emergency—plan ahead and keep your system running strong.

Need help inspecting or upgrading your wastewater equipment? Let’s talk. Contact us today!