In these cases, testing once per year is recommended. In regions where the source water is affected by seasonal changes, it is important to test water during each season to better understand and plan for these variances. If you are on your own well supply, then annual testing at a minimum is recommended to detect any changes in the source.
How can I find out what’s in my water?
There are three potential sources for information regarding your water. If a municipality is supplying your water, call them for a current analysis. If a private well provides your water, then call a local water treatment specialist to have your water tested. A third option is to contact a local testing laboratory to analyze your source water.
What should I be testing for in my water?
The scope of this analysis will greatly depend on the uses for the water at your facility. If water is used as a raw material for production, the quality requirements and testing requirements will be provided either by regulations or internal engineering. If the water is used as work water for rinsing, washing, cooling or heat transfer, the following list of parameters should be analyzed. They will provide a broad characteristic for your make-up water, and will help determine the type of treatment required for your facility.
- TDS (total dissolved solids)
- TSS (total suspended solids)
- Hardness
- Chlorine
- Alkalinity
- Silica
- Iron
- Chlorides
- pH
- Bacteria
What water treatment technology is best?
There is no “best” technology as each is used to address a specific type of water contaminant. In many scenarios, multiple technologies are required to provide the best solutions. Common water treatment technologies include:
Filtration - for the reduction of suspended solids, removal of some bacteria, iron and absorption of chlorine
Softening - for the removal of hardness and dissolved iron
Reverse Osmosis - for the reduction of TDS, chlorides, silica and sub-micron suspended solids
Deionization - for the reduction of TDS, silica and chlorides
Chemical Treatment - for the adjustment of pH, alkalinity and destruction of bacteria
Ozone - for the destruction of bacteria
UV - for the inactivation of bacteria
When should I treat my water?
This depends on the application. Each use for water will generate a minimum requirement. If the supply water is not to this specification, then treatment is definitely required. Even if the water quality meets requirements, there may be cost saving opportunities based on additional treatment. By improving water quality, the maintenance of various machines can be minimized. This cost reduction can be substantial and justify additional treatment.
Should treatment equipment be centralized?
If treated water is required to all operations, then a centralized system is recommended. However, if there are multiple applications, each requiring different treatment methods, these systems should be sized individually. This will reduce the number of treatment systems, but depending on the type and length of distribution path, it may cause problems in maintaining quality to the delivery points.
What is the life expectancy for water treatment equipment?
Although most water treatment systems are depreciated over seven years, their service life is between 15 – 25 years. After seven years, most major components will require replacement, and the question of rebuild versus new equipment should be investigated. New equipment is recommended provided enhancements to the technology can provide a solution that operates more efficiently, and therefore covers costs of old equipment removal, new equipment and installation.
What are the critical aspects of selecting a water treatment equipment supplier?
When investigating the purchase or rebuild of an existing water treatment system, three main factors should be considered in the selection of a water treatment vendor: price, product and service. Each of these factors are interrelated in determining the overall value being offered by the vendor. Price will always be considered first in the purchasing decision; however, each component of price should be examined. This includes capital investment, operating and maintenance costs, and installation. The product quality will influence each of the price components. When considering costs over the period of depreciation, products with enhanced features will typically save money by providing reduced maintenance, lower operating costs and improved reliability. The service factor of a vendor should also be investigated. Since most water treatment systems are integrated with an entire plant’s operation, quick service response, local spare parts and treatment advice can be invaluable assets to the smooth and long term operation of a water treatment system.
What are the newest innovations in water treatment?
Recycling. Although the technologies have not changed, their applications have progressed from strict source water treatment to integrated recycling systems, able to accept processed water, and recover and reuse it in the process. Examples are found in condensate return loops for boilers, zero blow down cooling tower systems, as well as process waters recycling for cleaning and rinsing. In each of these applications, water treatment can renew a resource that in the past was sent to drain with little consideration. Recycling is reducing many facility’s dependence on its water resource, and most importantly -- reducing costs and adding to the bottom line. |