Winter Bypass Readiness: Run Your Water System Unattended All Season Long

At Academy Water, we know the drill: the holidays roll around, your team wants time off, and the last thing anyone needs is a 2 a.m. call because the treatment plant went into bypass when the power flickered and the generator never started.

That’s why every year, before the first real cold snap hits, we put every bypass-capable system through our Winter Bypass Readiness protocol. The goal? Confident, unattended operation from December through March—even when roads are closed and nobody can physically get to site.

Here’s exactly what we check (and what you should be checking too).

1. Redundancy That Actually Works

• Dual chemical feed pumps with auto-switchover (and confirmed fail-over testing)

• Backup power that auto-starts within 10 seconds—tested monthly, not “sometime last year”

• Spare parts for every critical component stored on-site and clearly labelled

• Two independent methods of bypass activation (SCADA + hardwired local push-button)

If any single failure can take you offline or force an unnecessary bypass, you don’t have redundancy—you have hope.

2. Fuel Strategy That Survives a Two-Week Blockade

Fuel redundancy isn’t a luxury—it’s your insurance when weather locks roads.

Our rule of thumb: On-site fuel for minimum 14 days of continuous generator run-time at 100 % load, split across at least two tanks or suppliers.

We also require:

• Separate fill ports and dedicated gauges per tank

• Fuel polishing and stabilization additive refreshed every fall

• Contracts with two fuel vendors who guarantee winter emergency delivery (one local, one regional)

One ice storm that closes the highway for ten days is all it takes to turn “we’ve got lots of fuel” into “we’re out and the roads are impassable.”

Holiday Coverage Without Heartburn

When the protocol is complete, operators can take statutory holidays, family leave, or just a long weekend without the phone blowing up. The system either runs normally or safely bypasses with full alarming and data logging—so when you do return, you have a complete forensic record instead of finger-pointing.

Last winter we had clients run flawlessly through:

• Three multi-day power outages

• A 19-day stretch of −38 °C

• Two separate highway closures that blocked all site access

Zero unplanned discharges. Zero after-hours callouts.

Ready for This Winter?

If you’re not 100 % certain your bypass-ready system is truly winter-proof, let’s find the weak points before they find you.

Book a no-cost Winter Readiness Review at academywater.ca. We’ll walk through your redundancy and fuel plan and give you a prioritized punch list.

Because peace of mind in January starts with preparation in November.

Stay warm—and stay in compliance.

— The Academy Water Team academywater.ca