Contaminants Found in Industrial Water Systems & How to Remove Them
Common Contaminants Found in Industrial Water Systems and How to Remove Them
The water we use in every industry must be clean. Using dirty, contaminated water can lead to health complications or unsafe work environments. Within almost all industries, it is easy for water to get contaminated, and finding solutions to treat them should be just as easy. Below, we’ll walk you through what types of contaminants you might find in your water and different solutions on how to remove them through different treatment systems.
What is Industrial Water?
First, it is important to start with the basics and understand what industrial water is. According to h20-de, “Industrial water is the generic term for water used in industry during production and processing operations. This includes, for example, water for cleaning surfaces, for preparing rinses, acid treatments or active baths, and much more”. To put it simply, industrial water is the water that industrial businesses use to clean and aid in their business processes. This is why it is extremely common for this water to become contaminated.
How Do Contaminants Get in the Water and What Happens if it's Left Untreated?
Contaminates
Bacteria such as sewage leaks, animal waste, and human waste are all common forms of contaminants that can be found in industrial water if left untreated. However, if left untreated, water contaminated with bacteria can lead to mild stomach issues or even more serious illnesses.
Lead from old pipes or other plumbing fixtures can be another source of contamination in industrial water. Exposure from water contaminated water can result in serious long-term health effects.
Chemical contamination is another thing to look out for. It can be easy for chemicals like pesticides, herbicides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to sneak into industrial water sources. These chemicals can enter the water supply from agricultural runoff, industrial waste, and other sources. There are a number of health issues that can result from leaving chemically contaminated water untreated.
Mercury, arsenic, and cadmium are all metals that have also been found to contaminate industrial water. Water that contains metal contaminants can lead to serious health risks if consumed in high levels.
Water Treatment Options
While there are some serious consequences of leaving water untreated, there are also several ways to treat the water to ensure the safety of everyone in the workplace. The first water treatment option is called the Raw Water Treatment method. Samcotech says that “Raw water treatment systems are used to treat source water for a given application, such as heating, cooling, rinsing, processing, or even for consumption.” There are impacts that could get in the way of treating the water during the boiler feed method. These negative impacts include: variable turbidity levels, variable flow rates, changing feed chemistry, changing quality requirements, and secondary rates.
Boiler feed water treatment is another treatment solution. “Boiler feed water treatment systems are used to remove certain contaminants from water used in boiler makeup and condensate return water”. This treatment form is best used in industries that utilize boilers in their daily operations. The boiler feed water treatment can also be affected negatively if there are traces of sludge buildup, scale buildup, Corrosion, or foaming and priming.
If you work with cooling systems every day then the cooling tower water treatment is perfect for you. The cooling tower water treatments are meant to remove contaminants present in feed water, circulation water, and/or blowdown water in order to prevent damage to cooling tower components. This treatment could be negatively impacted by excess blowdown, low cycle of concentration, secondary waste disposal, or water scarcity.
Let Complete Water Solutions Help You Treat Your Water
There are a number of ways to ensure the safety of the water being used in a variety of industries. Making sure to identify what contaminants your industry is most prone to seeing is critical to identifying them when they end up in your water source. Once identified, you can be proactive in treating it right away to mitigate the chances of it causing health issues. Keep your water supply safe and check out our wide range of water treatment solutions to ensure your water is treated today!
With over 30 years of hands-on experience in the water treatment industry, Nathan Olszak is a trusted water treatment expert. He specializes in designing, engineering, and servicing water treatment systems. As the owner of Complete Water Solutions, Osmonics, and Membrane Cleaning Pro, Nathan has built a reputation for delivering customized water treatment solutions that enhance efficiency, reliability, and water quality across various industries, including the medical, commercial, and manufacturing sectors.
Nathan’s journey in water treatment began as a service technician. He gained in-depth knowledge by working with all major brands of equipment, including Veolia, Suez, Bruner, Culligan, Pentair, Aquamatic, Osmonics, GE Water, Marlo, Lakeside, Fleck, Autotrol, US Filter, ION Pure, Siemens, Evoqua, and many others. This hands-on expertise, combined with his technical certifications, has made him a leader in water system engineering and water management.
Credentials & Expertise
- Certifications: David H. Paul Reverse Osmosis Certification, PLC Programming
- License: Power Plant Operating Engineer 3rd Class
- Specialties:
- Design & engineering of water treatment systems and advanced water systems
- Custom water filtration systems and solutions
- Installation, automation, and repair of water treatment systems
- Expertise in Reverse Osmosis (RO), Deionization, Water Softening, Carbon Filtration, Iron Filtration, UV Treatment, Ultrafiltration (UF), Process Filtration, CEDI/EDI, and more
- Specialized knowledge in Boiler Feed Water, Tower Makeup Water, and drinking water production for industries such as bottling, pharmaceuticals, and food processing
- Project management and reclaiming of water system waste for other uses
- Evaluation of raw water sources and potential contamination risks
- Industrial water treatment strategies to prevent corrosion and optimize system performance
- Boiler water treatment to enhance energy efficiency and system longevity
Nathan’s commitment to excellence extends beyond equipment sales and service. He works closely with clients to develop tailored water treatment services that optimize performance and meet their operations’ unique demands. His expertise covers methods that mitigate water impurities, ensure fresh water accessibility, and maintain regulatory compliance. It also includes the design of high-efficiency reverse osmosis systems for industrial use.
Nathan focuses on the latest technology in water conditioning, water softeners, filters, and pumps to improve maintenance and efficiency. His experience in laboratory testing and biofilm control ensures the highest industry standards in water treatment processes and water management.
Additionally, his deep understanding of infrastructure and water data analysis provides long-term, cost-effective solutions that promote health and safety. His expertise ensures that businesses receive top-tier, quality water treatment solutions.
For insights into the latest industry trends, innovations, and best practices, explore the Complete Water Solutions Blog, where Nathan shares valuable information on water filtration systems, sustainability, and water solutions engineering.
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