There is a misperception that automated controls in an industrial plant, corporate office, or healthcare facility require hefty upfront costs that make a return on investment long and difficult. But the truth is, there are options available for every budget. It’s like the difference between a 7-day programmable Honeywell digital thermostat (no frills) and the self-learning, Wi-Fi-enabled Nest Thermostat (all the bells and whistles).   

Monitoring, remote monitoring, and automation as part of a water management plan have benefits beyond water use savings. For example, automation helped a food processing customer of Watertech improve conductivity control and see significant energy and water savings. But they’ve also leveraged the data they collect to better understand total and peak boiler water makeup flows, which helped them right-size a new reverse osmosis system; and monitor levels in chemical tanks, which helps them maintain inventory.   

Following is a list of the range of possibilities facility managers can achieve with automation equipment and services.          

Controllers – Stand-alone devices that feature flow-based chemical feeds for water treatment control. Controllers can easily be implemented with the addition of sensors and either the addition of or an upgrade to an existing control panel. 

Flow Meters – Flow measurement technology helps companies measure and control water usage. Newer technology options are minimally intrusive – they either clamp onto pipes or open flow tube design – maintenance is kept to a minimum.                

Cellular Modems – Add internet access to monitor activity and data collected from individual devices. Controllers and meters collect data and perform automated functions, but need a human interface to collect and record data or make adjustments. Adding an internet connection gives facility managers and water treatment partners remote access to the equipment.               

eController –  These controllers have the latest, most advanced cooling and boiler water control methods on the market, are connected to the internet and intranet, and have the ability to send status updates, data log reports, and alarms to email addresses or cell phone text numbers. 

One advanced feature is a Pyrene Tetra Sulfonic Acid Sodium Salt (PTSA) sensor. The sensor reads a tracer that is added to chemicals, enabling operators and water treatment partners to control the inhibitor feed more accurately.

Another is an affordable flow meter that measures the actual amount of chemical a pump is delivering. Measuring this volume allows a water treatment partner to set the optimum feed rate in the eController. Then, the eController uses the volume of makeup water to determine how much product needs to be fed, and the chemical feed pump is activated until that amount of product is fed. No other method of control provides this level of accuracy for feeding chemicals into a boiler, cooling tower, or any other water system.          

WTeService – Water treatment partners like Watertech of America can provide a 24/7 online service as a facility’s one-stop water management tool for recording, tracking, trending, and reporting all automated data from our smart water treatment systems as well as manual data collected. It monitors all of the crucial nearly-real-time conditions of a water treatment system and is checked regularly by a water treatment specialist. It is so intuitive, it instantly alerts users of conditions that may require immediate attention and a corrective action. If something does go wrong, the Watertech specialist is ready to act with and support the facility operator to solve the issue.   

Automation allows facility managers and water system operators to be more efficient. With automated processes, remote monitoring, and control, they can put more focus on their key activities while understanding how to make their program better. In addition to utility cost savings, facilities save on the intangible costs of preventing an emergency situation that could shut down a facility for a day, a week, or for good.