Why Is Industrial Water Treatment Needed?
Absolutely pure water coming from any outside source is a rarity. Most industrial and commercial operations must treat their water to find it acceptable for their processes. Below are some common problems associated with industrial water sources, along with solutions for these problems.
Sediment in the Water
Many companies and healthcare organizations rely on water to clean their commercial or industrial processes and final products. However, achieving proper cleanliness becomes challenging when the water contains dirt and sediment. These contaminants can clog piping and foul water treatment equipment. To address this, many organizations use commercial or industrial water filters designed to remove impurities like iron, sulfur, sand, and chlorine, as well as neutralize acidity. Filtering water not only protects equipment but also ensures a cleaner end product.
Hard Water
Hard water, characterized by high levels of calcium and magnesium, leads to lime scale buildup in pipes, water heaters, and boilers, reducing efficiency and potentially causing permanent damage. It also increases soap consumption, wasting 50-90% of soap depending on the hardness level, and forms soap curd that sticks to fabrics, hair, glassware, and dishes. This curd not only results in poor cleaning performance but can also harbor pathogenic bacteria. To address these issues, many businesses install commercial or industrial water softeners. These systems quickly offset their cost by reducing energy use, extending the lifespan of water appliances, and minimizing plumbing repairs.
Minerals in the Water
In industrial manufacturing, water often contains dissolved mineral salts, organic matter, and other particles that hinder effective cleaning processes. To address this, many companies turn to industrial reverse osmosis (RO) systems for superior water filtration. Industrial reverse osmosis systems provide the highest level of filtration available, effectively removing contaminants and oxidants while eliminating biological impurities. These systems ensure water purity levels of up to 99%, making them essential for industries requiring clean and reliable water for optimal performance. High-quality commercial and industrial reverse osmosis systems can be tailored to meet these needs.
Bacteria and Biological Contamination
Scientific studies reveal that 85% of childhood illnesses and 65% of adult diseases are linked to waterborne pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and intestinal protozoa like Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Inadequate water treatment can contribute to serious health issues such as hepatitis B, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, cholera, salmonella, meningitis, and diarrhea. To combat these risks, many industries rely on commercial and industrial UV water disinfection systems, which eliminate over 99.9% of microorganisms. These systems are widely used in hospitals, laboratories, and manufacturing processes, such as pharmaceutical production, to ensure a sterile water supply. For optimal UV system performance, feed water must be exceptionally clean, typically pre-treated with industrial water softeners, carbon filters, reverse osmosis (RO) systems, or deionizers. Industrial Water Solutions offers a full range of water treatment systems to meet these critical needs.
Alkalinity in the Water
High alkalinity in water is a common issue that reduces boiler efficiency, as it requires more frequent blowdowns, leading to increased water and energy consumption. Additionally, alkalinity contributes to iron and copper pickup in piping systems, causing staining problems—blue-green stains from copper pipes or red stains from iron pipes. Low pH levels further amplify water’s corrosive tendencies, increasing the risk of damage to equipment and piping. To address these challenges, many businesses install industrial-grade dealkalizers or reverse osmosis (RO) systems. These systems effectively lower alkalinity, reduce operating costs, prevent pipe corrosion, and eliminate staining issues. Industrial Water Solutions provides robust water treatment systems designed to tackle alkalinity and improve operational efficiency.
Ions in the Water
The presence of ions in water is undesirable because they interfere with manufacturing cleansing processes. This problem can be corrected through the use of an industrial-grade deionizer (also known as a demineralizer) or deionization (DI) exchange tanks, which can remove all ions, including silica and carbon dioxide. The low silica content produced by strong base deionizers is especially important where high pressure steam is used to drive turbines, yet manufacturing processes that add water directly to the finished product, or wash and rinse operations where spot drying is important, also benefit from deionizers or DI exchange tanks.
Gases in the Water
Carbon dioxide is the most prevalent gas found in water and readily combines with it to form carbonic acid, a weak acid that accelerates corrosion, especially at elevated temperatures. To mitigate this issue, many industries incorporate industrial water degasifiers into their water treatment systems. These systems efficiently remove carbon dioxide, as well as benzene, chlorinated hydrocarbons, pesticides, and herbicides. The benefits of using a degasifier include the elimination of regenerant chemicals, low energy consumption, and reduced mineral content. Alternatively, dealkalizers or reverse osmosis (RO) systems can achieve similar results. Reliable degasifiers and comprehensive water treatment systems can be tailored to meet industry-specific needs.
Do you need industrial water equipment repair or preventative maintenance for your softener, reverse osmosis, deionizer, filter, or other system? Industrial Water Solutions also offers technical consultation and short-term rental of industrial water softeners. We service and sell industrial water softeners, industrial reverse osmosis, industrial water UV systems, and other industrial water systems throughout the U.S. including Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois.
Contact us at 800-820-9021 or info@industrialh2osolutions.com for a quote or service.
