What do I get with a cistern fed
Water Walker?
You receive a Water Walker
treadmill exactly the same as a conventional Water Walker either a
double or single door unit, a start / stop variable speed control, and
a wall mounted safety control panel housing RCD’s and MCB’s. You do
not have a conventional storage tank with filtration and transfer
pumps.
Where does the water come from?
The fresh water is stored in
tank similar to a tank in the loft of your home. This will usually be
positioned in a higher position than the Water Walker, such as the
first floor or the attic or loft space depending on access.
How big is the tank and how much
water does it hold?
The standard tank measures 750mm
x 9250mm x 1700mm and holds 1050 litres of water.
Is the water heated?
Yes, fresh cool water is heated
in one of two ways. The tank has an inbuilt electric heater rapidly
heats and keeps the water at a steady 30 degrees centigrade. Some
centres may choose to have warm water delivered directly to the tank
via a TRV valve and their regular warm water supply.
How does the water get into the
Water Walker?
The Water Walker is fed by 50mm
flexible hoses. The water is released into the Water Walker by opening
a valve and closing it again when you have the required amount of
water. The metric and imperial depth measurements are clearly shown on
both sides of the Water Walker to help you record your treatment
details.
How much water do I need for
each patient?
Depending on the size of your
patient, the water required to treat will vary on your treatment
program, a very small dog will only require a small amount of water
even if you fill up to his chest. A larger dog will require more water
to fill to the stifle.
How quickly does the water fill
the treadmill?
The distance between you tank
and your Water Walker will determine the speed of the transfer. The
water is gravity fed and on average will take approximately two
minutes to fill the treadmill completely from a storage tank
positioned directly on the floor above the treadmill.
Where does the water go when I
have finished the session?
The used water will go directly
to waste. It can be reused for watering plants or vehicle washing etc.
The position of my Water Walker
is below the waste water outlet, will it still empty properly?
We will help you to select a
transfer pump that will move the waste water to your water outlet.
Why are there no chemicals
required?
There are no chemicals needed
for this system because when the treatment is complete the water is
directed to waste just the same as if the patient had finished a bath.
The water is not re-used, therefore there is no requirement to
sanitize for either the patient or the handler.
Is this better for the dogs skin
and coat?
Some people believe this to be
so, however a well run and managed sanitized system poses no threat to
normal patients skin and coat.
This sounds as though it may be
more expensive to operate than the sanitised system?
Surprisingly no! When you take
into account that your original purchase costs less than the sanitised
system, you will not be purchasing water balancing chemicals or
sanitising chemicals or water testing equipment and consumables. On
top of that you will not be requiring a yearly visit from Animal Rehab to
service the filter and pumps. A good water maintenance program will
include a fortnightly or monthly change of water in the sanitised
system.
The Cistern system whilst it
uses clean water each time, metered water is usually only charged
around £1 per cubic metre of water. A Water Walker completely filled
takes one cubic metre. Most small to medium dogs will only use a few
inches of water, even a very large dog will not require huge amounts
of water due to the body mass creating displacement.
Do I have to sanitize the Water
Walker between patients?
We recommend that after each
patient has left the Water Walker a mist spray of antibacterial
solution is sprayed around the inside of the Water Walker before the
next patient enters.
Does this system mean the Water
Walker is easier to clean?
This is quite possible, badly
maintained sanitized water can lead to orange deposits [similar to
rust in appearance] on the Stainless steel surface. Whilst these are
easy to wipe off with a plastic kitchen scourer, without the sanitizer
present you should not get this problem.
Do I still have to clean under
the treadmill belt?
Yes periodically, you will need
to clean under the conveyor belt as very large hairy dogs can leave
balls of hair in the water, which can sometimes get caught under the
treadmill.
Whilst the conveyor looks simple
to remove, it does look heavy?
We can supply you with a simple
lifting device that fits on top of the Water Walker and all you have
to do is turn a handle to lift the conveyor.
Can I still move the Water
Walker if I rearrange my treatment room?
Yes, the Water Walker is
connected to the water supply by two 50mm flexible hoses with a large
threaded connection. The hoses can be disconnected and the Walker
repositioned within the limits of the hose length and reconnected
easily with the tool supplied with your Water Walker.
Do I require two power supplies?
Yes, you will require a 25 amp
dedicated IP rated rotary isolator adjacent to the water tank, and a
fused outlet 2 metres from the position of the safety control panel.
Does this system require regular
servicing?
A service to a Water Walker is
predominantly based around the Water filtration, heating and transfer
pumps. As you will not have any of these fitted, a standard Animal
Rehab
service will not be required. However as with any electrical appliance
we recommend a regular annual inspection by a qualified electrician
and a minimum of monthly RCD checks by a competent person.
Do I have to drain the system if
I close my business when I am on holiday?
No, we provide you with a safety
shut off valve that isolates the water tank when you are closing for
any period of time.
What can go wrong then?
The element in the storage tank may require
replacing from time to time over the years. This is a simple plumbing
job, just like your system at home, you purchase a replacement element
from Animal Rehab and ask your local plumber to change it. Depending on
use, you may need to replace the bearings in the conveyor after
approximately five years.
