Earlier this month we had our backup generator's fuel quality tested and we found some algae in there. Given the size of the tank (5000 gallons/19,000 liters) and the wide temperature variations we've seen over the past year, it didn't really surprise us. Our previous test did not show any, but the recent one had enough to make us worry, especially as we're going into the critical months of the year for backup power availability. There must have been a recent "bloom" of the algae. We scheduled our friends at Fuel Care to come out and remove the contamination ASAP. They arrived on Friday.

The process involves parking their truck next to our fuel tank and cycling the fuel out of the tank and through special filters in the truck to remove the algal contamination. While that happens they scrub the tank walls and generally inspect the tank's interior while the access cover is off. Please note that we can still operate the generator if needed while this process is happening, as the fuel is constantly cycled through Fuel Care's filter system and no more than a few hundred gallons are out of our tank at a time. In many ways it is akin to kidney dialysis, but for Diesel fuel.

Thankfully the tank itself was very clean and appeared in great shape. We removed about a gallon and a half of water (5 liters) accumulated via condensation and all the algae and now our fuel supply is sparkling clean.

The whole point of this process is to ensure the smooth operation of our backup power supply. You rely upon us to maintain our facility to the highest standard and ensure the maximum uptime for your servers. We just like to share all the things we do with that in mind so you stay informed. We'll have more news and info about other steps we're taking in that direction soon.

Regards,
Chuck Goolsbee
VP Technical Operations
digital.forest