Problems with discolouration of the water supply in the third tallest hotel in the world and the tallest building in the Middle East and Europe – the Emirates Towers in Dubai – have been cleared thanks to the installation of a new cold water and drinking water pumping system. The water was coming out of the taps almost coffee-coloured. M&E consultants DSSR/Mitchell partnership, brought in to solve the problem, discovered galvanic action between the pump sets and the system pipework. The problem affected both towers: the 305 m 400-room hotel and the adjacent 350 m office block. Specialist UK pump set designer and manufacturer Allan Aqua-Systems Limited provided a solution calling for completely new bespoke pumping systems with all wetted components in 316 stainless steel, including separate, dedicated pump sets to serve the high level draw-off points. Allan Aqua-Systems selected Lowara vertical multi-stage units.
