Fluids Handling

Rethinking Water Treatment And Management

Deep Water Blue's vSteam platform bridges the gap between site teams and water treatment consultants.

Phil Black - PII Editor 20/11/2025

250 3 minutes read

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In this extended feature, Deep Water Blue's water treatment consultant Ian Page examines the thinking behind the company's vSteam® platform and what its capabilities mean for the future of digital water optimisation, steam system management, and UK industrial compliance.

Data is only as valuable as the speed and integrity with which it's shared, and in steam and water systems, that principle is more important than ever. Whether operating in energy generation, healthcare, pharmaceutical production, manufacturing, or heavy industry, engineers rely on accurate data to keep systems safe, compliant, and efficient. Yet across the UK sector, many organisations still depend on manual or fragmented processes that limit transparency and create delays in decision-making.

Deep Water Blue’s vSteam® platform offers a forward-looking alternative. It is a data-driven, digital system that optimises performance, accountability, and operational clarity, while challenging century-old practices. A seamless link between on-site teams and specialist water treatment consultants, the platform converts reactive maintenance into intelligent predictive management, underpinned by continuous, high-quality data.

A new era for data integrity and operational intelligence

Deep Water Blue realised a lingering industry-wide problem: the requirement for speedy expert oversight and consistent, data-driven decision-making without the delays associated with periodic consultancy visits. Even with comprehensive training, on-site teams can face knowledge gaps that affect operational consistency and regulatory compliance.

This understanding fostered the creation of vSteam®, an innovative digital monitoring and support platform that offers real-time insight, analysis, and collaboration. Because vSteam® embeds consultancy expertise directly into the daily operation of water treatment, it will help ensure that sustained optimisation, improved accountability, and reliable data integrity are maintained.

This approach moves away from the traditional intermittent reviews toward a continuous model of water management, enhancing safety culture and reducing the risk of unplanned downtime.

Bridging the gap between site and consultant

vSteam® supplies the platform that site engineers and specialists in water treatment use to collaborate instantaneously. Results of tests are uploaded online in real time and automatically analysed; critical indicators are colour-coded so teams can act fast and with confidence.

The consultants will have the ability to comment directly within the platform, adding technical insight or escalating more complex issues. Such immediacy reduces the time lag from capturing data to getting expert interpretation, avoiding the possibility of missing a warning and thus addressing issues before they escalate.

Beyond the immediate operational benefits, vSteam® fosters better long-term practice. As an end-to-end system capable of tracking user-specific uploads, presenting performance trends, and centralising documentation, it uniquely provides a more formalised structure for training, development, and accountability.

The result is a proactive ownership of the system rather than one of minimum use, resulting in safer working practices and greater operational reliability for UK facilities.

A framework for a more sustainable and compliant future

The benefits of digital optimisation extend far beyond convenience. Records of water treatment, according to guidance BG01 and BG04, backed up by best practice recommendations from the Combustion Engineering Association, should be kept for a minimum of two years. vSteam® protects the data, supports full traceability, and offers continuous performance insight to enable organisations to meet these expectations.

The platform also supports adherence to the PSSR 2000, which calls for the monitoring, maintenance, and examination of pressurised systems under a defined written scheme. vSteam® underpins the fundamentals of competent steam system management with improved data capture and interpretation, supporting more robust and auditable operations.

Originally developed for steam applications, vSteam has grown to support a wide variety of UK installations, including cooling towers, heating networks, chilled water systems and any system requiring robust data collection and interpretation. The flexibility allows organisations to apply consistent standards of accountability and performance insight across their entire water management infrastructure.

Drive measurable improvements in long-term operations value

Quantifiable results will differ by system type and site-specific needs, but the direction is the same. With increased visibility and better control of the water chemistry, vSteam® facilitates operating conditions that are more stable, with reduced potential for failure, and optimises chemical use for greater efficiency.

It prevents over-dosing, enables the early detection of anomalies and smooths operational trends before they become energy losses or issues that affect performance.

The result of this process is stronger, more structured compliance documentation that simplifies audits and provides support for regulatory inspections, while on-site teams are empowered and able to maintain high performance standards without dependency on periodic consultancy visits.

Raising standards in UK industry through digital innovation

Finally, vSteam® shows how engineering expertise and digital innovation come together in the development of safer, smarter, leaner water systems. Aligned to the principles of BG01, BG04, and PSSR, the platform reinforces best practice across UK industry whilst raising expectations for risk management, accountability, and system efficiency.

As digital transformation gains momentum throughout the water sector, vSteam serves as an example of what future-ready water treatment management can achieve: increased compliance, deeper insight, stronger system reliability, and a more proactive safety culture.

For technical enquiries:

Ian Page, Deep Water Blue Ltd
Tel: 0870 460 2980
Email: info@deepwaterblue.co.uk
Web: www.deepwaterblue.co.uk