Q&A: How can we deliver clean, safe water services quickly in the wake of a natural disaster? Containerised switchboards could be the answer.

A containerised switchboard is a portable, modular electrical facility for water or wastewater treatment. They’re usually housed in shipping containers. Typically,  the electrical equipment is built offsite and delivered to the container once planning approvals have been signed-off. This allows for a quicker turn-around period. Developers, consultants, and planners can multiply and stack containers to fit a project’s exact requirements, with room to expand if needed. 

Containerised solutions help councils and government agencies who urgently need to commission a facility - such as after natural disasters. They also help those who need to deal with challenging construction programmes that must be completed in a compressed timeframe. 

The traditional programme of switchboard work involves delivering electrical equipment to site and fitting kit into a building. Containerised switchboards, on the other hand, are built and tested offsite; then delivered to site for connection and commissioning.

In a traditional project, the planning procedure for water and wastewater treatment can be lengthy, which leaves little time for construction. But containerised switchboards let you start construction alongside procurement of the land. This significantly shortens the time between approvals and project builds. 

Because containerised switchboards are manufactured in a controlled environment – and often follow a streamlined construction process – they’re often quick to build.

If you need to urgently commission a facility, or are pressured for time in the delivery stages of a project, containerised switchboards could be the answer. 

The flexibility and robustness of a containerised switchboard makes it an efficient solution in times of crisis., such as flooding.

Many organisations affected by the recent floods already have a containerised switchboard onsite. They’re easily able to relocate the facility to a dryer location. Compare this with a traditional pump station, which is much more difficult, if not impossible, to transport.   

For those who don’t have a containerised switchboard on-site, they can quickly be brought in to deliver water and wastewater services while completing remedial work on any existing facilities.

Projects should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. and the decision to use a containerised switchboard should be based on specific needs. With projects that involve designing and constructing buildings or infrastructure that will last for a long time, for example, it's better to use a traditional switchboard delivery programme.

It’s best to start thinking about containerised switchboards in the planning phase of the project - usually early in the design and feasibility stage.  This way, you’ll benefit from having it manufactured early and meet all your needs.