--- title: Solutions for Electrical Bearing Damage in Water Treatment description: This Kansas water treatment plant was plagued by recurring pump motor bearing failure until they installed shaft grounding rings. image: https://blog.est-aegis.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/hutchinson-big.jpg --- [![Electro Static Technology](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/public/images/electro-static-technology.svg "Electro Static Technology")](https://www.est-aegis.com/) [![Aegis](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/public/images/Aegis.svg "Aegis")](https://www.est-aegis.com/) - [+1 866-738-1857](tel:+1%20866-738-1857) - [Products](https://www.est-aegis.com/products/) - [AEGIS® SGR – for motors under 500 HP/375 kW](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/sgr/) - [AEGIS® uKIT – for common NEMA/IEC frame size](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/sgr-ukit/) - [AEGIS® RPPR – for reactor recirculating pumps](https://www.est-aegis.com/rppr-resources/) - [AEGIS® EV and EVO Rings - for electric vehicles](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/ev-evo-rings/) - [AEGIS® PRO Series – for motors over 300 HP/225 kW](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/pro-series/) - [Shaft Voltage Testing and Accessories](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/mounting-accessories/) - [Online Product Catalog](https://catalog.est-aegis.com/) - [AEGIS® 2-Year Extended Warranty](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/extended-warranty/) - [Applications](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/) - [Electric Vehicle Solutions](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/electric-vehicle-solutions/) - [Food & Beverage](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/food-beverage/) - [HVAC](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/hvac/) - [Industrial & Chemical](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/industrial-chemical/) - [Other Industries](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/other-industries/) - [Power Generation & Renewable Energy](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/power-generation-renewable-energy/) - [Transportation](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/transportation/) - [Water Treatment](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/water-treatment/) - [Bearing Protection](https://www.est-aegis.com/bearing-protection/) - [Shaft Voltage & Bearing Currents](https://www.est-aegis.com/bearing-protection/shaft-voltage-and-bearing-currents/) - [Fluting & Bearing Inspection](https://www.est-aegis.com/bearing-protection/fluting-and-bearing-inspection/) - [Best Practices & Installation](https://www.est-aegis.com/bearing-protection/best-practices-and-installation/) - [Resources](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/) - [AEGIS® Bearing Protection Handbook](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/handbook/) - [IEEE-841, Hazardous Locations, & AEGIS®](https://info.est-aegis.com/technical-codes-and-ieee-841-standards) - [Recorded Webinars Library](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/recorded-webinars/) - [Installation Instructions](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/installation-instructions/) - [Videos](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/videos/) - [Technical Papers](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/technical-papers/) - [Case Studies](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/case-studies/) - [Specifying AEGIS®](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/specifying-aegis/) - [Request Training](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/training/) - [Product Sheets](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/product-sheets/) - [About](https://www.est-aegis.com/about/) - [News](https://blog.est-aegis.com/) - [Tradeshows](https://www.est-aegis.com/about/tradeshows/) - [Blog](https://blog.est-aegis.com/) - [Where to Buy](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/) - [Distributors](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/distributors?type=Distributor) - [Trained Installers](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/installers?type=Installer) - [Explosion Proof Installers](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/installers?type=Explosion%20Proof%20Installer) - [Motors & Seals with AEGIS® Installed](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/oems-with-aegis/) [Contact Us](https://www.est-aegis.com/contact/) - [+1 866-738-1857](tel:+1%20866-738-1857) # Case Study: Electrical Bearing Damage in a Water Treatment Plant [Home](https://www.est-aegis.com/) » [Blog](https://blog.est-aegis.com/) » Case Study: Electrical Bearing Damage in a Water Treatment Plant [AEGIS](https://blog.est-aegis.com/author/estaegis) Aug 8, 2023 In 2009, the city of Hutchinson, Kansas opened its new [Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Center](https://www.hutchgov.com/). The plant uses 17 pump motors, all controlled by variable frequency drives, to move water through the treatment process and to the city's supply towers. ## ![The Hutchinson Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Center](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/hutchinson-big.jpg?width=660&height=260&name=hutchinson-big.jpg)Chronic Pump Motor Failure in a New Water Treatment Facility ![hutchinson_VHS](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/hutchinson_VHS.jpg?width=300&height=400&name=hutchinson_VHS.jpg) Two months after the plant came online, the pump motors' bearings began to fail.  It started with a 250-hp vertical pump motor that began to [squeal](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7JXCTCjhOc&list=PLefPvMLCx4dyZluzghMn10qa9839NTwcp&index=4).  The manufacturer replaced that motor's bearings, but soon other motors developed the same problem.  Something was clearly wrong.   ## What Was Wrong with the Motors? The plant turned to a new motor repair contractor, [Independent Electric Machinery Company](https://iemco.com/).  Independent Electric found the cause of the problem.  The drives controlling the motors were creating voltage on the shaft. That voltage caused arcing through the bearings, producing pitting, roughening, and eventual failure.  Luckily, Independent Electric had experience with electrical bearing damage. ## What Was the Solution? In fact, they had developed what they call the Vertical Motor Solution.  This consists of isolating the thrust bearing and installing an [AEGIS® Shaft Grounding Ring](https://www.est-aegis.com/products/)at the guide bearing.  The AEGIS ring bleeds voltage safely off the shaft before it can arc, and the insulation prevents circulating currents. In all, ten vertical pump motors had been damaged before they got the Vertical Motor Solution.  After that, AEGIS rings and bearing insulation were installed on the other seven pump motors. ![Hutchinson_PHOTOB](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Hutchinson_PHOTOB.jpg?width=300&height=240&name=Hutchinson_PHOTOB.jpg) The bearings haven't failed since.   ## Why Choose AEGIS® Shaft Grounding Rings  This ordeal made an impression on Dan Biby, an engineer who helped design the plant and dealt with this problem. He said, "We use the rings on all jobs to eliminate downtime, replacement, and installation costs.  Installing rings can prevent these problems altogether. And the cost is insignificant when compared to the total project cost." Over the years, motor manufacturers have become aware of this problem.  Nowadays, both vertical and horizontal motors are available with AEGIS rings factory-installed.  In fact, US Motors (Nidec) has made AEGIS rings standard in their[Vertical HOLLOSHAFT® Inverter Duty motors](https://acim.nidec.com/motors/usmotors/products-and-services/ac-motors/vertical-motors) (WPI and TEFC models). To learn more about AEGIS shaft grounding and best practices for electrical bearing protection, [sign up for a training](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/training/).  We offer monthly live training webinars, and we can also visit your facility to review your exact application. [![Sign Up For Training](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/20974229/69dd56c7-bbd1-4ad0-ae5c-29de322039f0.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/20974229/69dd56c7-bbd1-4ad0-ae5c-29de322039f0) *This blog post is based on [this case study](https://www.est-aegis.com/wp-content/uploads/AEGIS_CaseStudy_WaterTreatment.pdf).* [Electrical Bearing Damage](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/electrical-bearing-damage), [Case Study](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/case-study), [Water Treatment](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/water-treatment) ### Subscribe To Our Blog ## Read On ### [Electrical Bearing Protection in Pulp and Paper Mills](https://blog.est-aegis.com/electrical-bearing-protection-in-pulp-paper-mills?hsLang=en-us) The [pulp and paper industry](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/industrial-chemical/)is a vital sector of the global economy and produces essential... ### [Plant Engineering writes about how VFD driven washdown systems save energy and extend equipment life](https://blog.est-aegis.com/plant-engineering-writes-about-how-vfd-driven-wash-down-systems-save-energy-and-extend-equipment-life?hsLang=en-us) ***In the article "Full speed in washdown? Not so fast!***" Ron Crutchfield and Gary Jacott of [Motion...](https://www.motionindustries.com/) ### [Electrified Transportation & Bearing Damage](https://blog.est-aegis.com/electrified-transportation-bearing-damage?hsLang=en-us) It's hard to believe, but the first electric vehicles were created almost 100 years ago. Electric... 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