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STOP! Don’t throw your water treater under the bus.
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5 Things operators ignore, then look to blame on their water treater.
 
Quality water treatment is a critical function of any facility’s success. There is a strong relationship that exists between plant operators and their water treatment partner. Both sides need to fulfill specific roles to keep a facility’s water system running at peak performance. When something goes wrong it can be easy to point fingers and look to place blame. History has shown the water treatment program is always first in line! In reality, a majority of causes relating to apparent water treatment-related problems are caused by mechanical or human error and not the treatment program itself.  Below are a few examples where things that have gone wrong at the plant level resulting in the water treater becoming the easy scapegoat: 
 
  1. Problem: Scale build up in your boiler system
    Cause: Salt/Brine system out of salt

    It is not uncommon for a customer to be caught off guard and have the salt in their softener run low, resulting in hard water. Would you operate your car without oil? People check the oil in cars on a regular basis. A salt/brine check for the pretreatment system is an easy visual check that needs to be monitored regularly. It is important to make this part of your Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to ensure regular rounds and checks are made by facility personnel. Keeping a log next to the brine tank! Assigning the task to monitor usage, refill the brine tank and keep a log is the key to success. 

  2. Problem: Mild scale buildup on the cooling tower fill or coils
    Cause: Poor flow, wet/dry, improper shutdown procedures 

    This “scale” is likely a combination of the high mineral content of the system and the intermittent wet/dry operations of the system. Here are the most common causes and fixes to avoiding this type of scale:
    • Poor Flow: Check the spray pattern of the water flow on the distribution deck or spray nozzles in the tower. Make sure each tower is being supplied with the proper amount of flow by adjusting the balancing valves or how many pumps are running.
    • Wet/dry conditions: A system that turns on and off consistently will lead to scale. In addition, if the system is not designed properly, you could be short on flow causing scale buildup where the flow is very low and the water dries leaving minerals behind. Another cause is the fans running too high when water flow is not maximized first.
    •  Improper shutdown: reducing conductivity prior to shutting a system down for annual inspection, service, or for the season, will reduce chances of residue on the surfaces. Reducing conductivity setpoint to by at least 75% prior to shutdown will help eliminate this scale/mineral build-up. 

  3. Problem: Ran out of Chemical
    Cause: Poor inventory management  

    Yes, many water treaters help customers with the chemical inventory/management for systems. Some systems have monitoring devices in place, while others rely on human observation. Relying only on human observation can be challenging. Implementing level sensor technology and remote communication can help minimize low chemistry levels by having constant monitoring for each chemical in use. With monitoring in place, the sales rep will receive an alarm when chemistry is low so they can place an order and schedule a refill. Having a healthy balance between technology and physical checks can greatly reduce the chances of product running low. It truly takes a team.  Allow enough time for orders. For the most part, all chemicals are in stock and can arrive onsite within 5-7 days after placing an order. However, raw material shortages, waiting for a PO, weather, and trucking can all cause delays with shipments. Eliminate these concerns by placing your orders early. After all, systems tend to fail when under pressure and being rushed.

  4. Problem: The chemistry is not right in my system
    Cause: Operator training or not enough onsite testing 

    Water treatment is both an “art and science”.  Regular testing of the system’s water is needed to confirm everything is in range.  This is the “science” behind the water chemistry. How to make the right adjustments and how the system is going to respond is the “art”.  No system is identical. There are many similarities, but how a specific system responds is different from facility to facility. It is important for operators to pull samples and test their system and reach out to their water treater partner if anything is out of range. 

  5. Problem: Chemical costs are increasing  
    Cause(s): Many

    The key is to focus on the overall cost of running your plant and making sure your chemical program is saving you money and not costing you money! Chemical pricing is a huge moving target and a reality that customers and water treaters find equally challenging. There are many issues that affect the supply chain that are driving up the cost of chemicals, including labor shortages, excise taxes on raw products, and transportation costs. Finding ways to be more sustainable and reduce usage can help. Operational efficiencies can play a huge part of the overall program cost. Actively managing it can help reduce costs.  As they say, “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.”  Implementing a great balance between metering technology, system management, remote communication, and understanding how to leverage these systems is a beneficial for a cost effective and efficient chemical program. The direct costs of your chemicals should be a small fraction of the impact they can have on your plant! Both positive and negative.  
 
 
Do you have questions about managing your system?
Watetech of America can help with many aspects of the water treatment.  From energy savings to equipment improvements. To learn how Watertech can make it easier to monitor and maintain your system, reach out for a Site Survey and one of our technical engineers will be in touch. 
 
 
 
 
Tom Koeppen Jr., PE Senior Territory Manager, Watertech of America, Inc.  
Tom holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from UW-Platteville and is a licensed Professional Engineer. He has over 30 years of experience including water, wastewater, and environmental compliance. He has been with Watertech over 14 years helping customers manage their systems.      

 
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Articles
Big Cup Golf - Ukraine Benefit
Happy to sponsor and be part of the Big Cup golf event to benefit Ukraine 
Watertech Collects 504lbs for Feeding America
Watertech Supports Feeding America of Eastern Wisconsin 
Save up to 15% on energy costs. EndoTherm can be installed into ANY hydronic heating, process, and chilled loop system. 
Technical document with tips for reopening a building after closure. 
An article from Water Conditioning & Purification that highlights various filtration media, their performance properties and best applications. 
Tufts University School of Medicine found that more than 617,000 hospitalizations from 1991 to 2006 were related to three common opportunistic waterborne pathogens. 
Download the annual surveys from the CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network. 
Watertech is Proud to Support CW4K
Watertech is Proud to Support CW4K 
CMS says WMP's are necessary to be compliant. 
CMS Memo to State Survey Directors 
This toolkit is designed to help people understand which buildings and devices need a Legionella water management program to reduce the risk for Legionnaires’ disease. 
3 Key factors to consider when feeding an emulsion polymer. 
Legionaires' Disease – A problem for health care facilities. 
WTeService Learn More About v3.0
Exciting new updates to WTeService. 
CWT Brochure
When you see CWT you have one of the industry’s best working for you. 
Certified Water Technologists Code of Ethics 
AWT Environmental Statement
AWT Environmental Statement The Association of Water Technologies (AWT) is an association of over 500 U.S. and international water treatment companies that provide water treatment programs for many diverse institutional, commercial and industrial water users. 
An article from Forbes addressing the importance of water to utility industry executives. 
A guide describing a process for assuring that building design intention matches actual energy consumption. 
Map of the U.S. identifying the hardness of water in milligrams per liter in specific locations. 
Guidelines to improve boiler performance allowing you to achieve more cost effective maintenance of a steam system. 
Five examples of how a plate heat exchanger can provide benefits for process heating applications. 
Legionella guide from the World Health Organization. 
Environmental Protection Agency rules governing large and small boilers used at area source facilities. 
Causes and solutions to fouling in heat exchangers.  
Strategies to optimize heat exchanger efficiency. 
Identifying problems that a good water management system can control. 
Boiler logging will reduce accidents, downtime, and equipment loss. 
Scale in boiler water systems is a very common issue. Consult with water treatment specialists to treat and prevent it.  
A list of instrument readings to be taken daily and recorded in your boiler log. 
Energy management basics that should be a part of your everyday checklist routine. 
Partial listing of sizing and installation highlights for steam pressure system safety valves. 
Guide to achieving 50% energy savings toward a net-zero energy building. 
A guide to understanding chemical water treatment in cooling and boiler water systems. 
A brief guide to better understanding boiler water conductivity. 
Information for proper fall shutdown of cooling equipment. 
Decrease your energy costs by using these proven effective guidelines. 
Solutions for water use and energy reduction in order to increase your bottom line and protect the environment. 
Ideas to limit water use in ethanol production utilizing a "reduce, reuse, recycle" frame of mind. 
Understanding our water footprint in order to better conserve water. 
Filtration using step-down particle retention can help reduce operating costs and achieve cleaner solutions. 
Innovative chemistries, optimization of systems and water conservation as these topics relate to scale, corrosion and microbiological prevention. 
Benefits of online benchmarking systems for facilities management. 
Knowing the cost of steam to improve your bottom line. 
Understanding energy metrics to limit energy use. 
New ways to save water in dairy processing. 
Energy reduction strategies for optimizing your bottom line. 
Five helpful tips for integrating environment, health and safety into company culture. 
Different selections of pumps for boiler water applications. 
Reduce your blowdown need to zero and cycle water without limit. 
Identifying key components of the boiler system and how water chemistry relates to Key Performance Indicators.  
Piping dead-legs, source of plant maintenance and safety incidents. 
Necessary steps that need to be taken prior to starting boilers after a lay-up period. 
Ice control and different ice formations in various types of cooling towers. 
Important connections and opportunities between water and energy. 
Guidelines for maintaining optimal water quality in evaporation cooling equipment. 
A checklist for monthly cooling tower maintenance. 
Table of conversion factors. 
10 ways that you can save time and money, prevent litigation and illness, and maybe even save a life as they relate to Legionella.  
Free cooling helps you reduce refrigeration energy consumption by using evaporative cooling equipment to produce chilled water in cool weather. 
Explaining the different types of boiler logs, what these logs can tell you, and who is all responsible for these logs. 
Benefits of using liquid polymers in water-treatment applications and accommodating their unique characteristics. 
Criteria you should consider when evaluating your next cooling tower purchase. 
Tips from Chemical Processing to make fullest use of its hot water, and thus cutting energy consumption. 
Part 1 - Describing some potentially catastrophic events that power and recovery boilers are prone to if not properly maintained. 
Part 2 - Describing some potentially catastrophic events that power and recovery boilers are prone to if not properly maintained. 
Part 3 - Describing some potentially catastrophic events that power and recovery boilers are prone to if not properly maintained. 
General water management guide for facility managers. 
Strategies for reducing energy savings in large office buildings by up to 50%. 
Sustainable and operational benefits of molded, HDPE cooling towers. 
Maintenance requirements to prevent scale from occurring in your boiler. 
Optimization efforts taken by several chemical manufacturers to reduce their water footprint.  
Understanding the key components of cooling towers and how to improve water efficiency. 
How to prevent/minimize Legionella in your water systems. 
Blogs
The Hidden Benefits of a Fresh Perspective in Water Treatment. 
Few things are as important as water. 
Corrosion coupons are a good predictive maintenance tool. 
Watertech leverages AI to manage data, but strives to maintain a personal connection. 
Aquassist is a groundbreaking smart water testing tool that will revolutionize how you validate your system’s water quality.  
Seasonal maintenance helps maintain equipment and improve efficiency. 
An account audit helps maintain the success of a water treatment program. 
The importance of becoming a Certified Water Technologist 
Maximize the Potential of Pretreatment 
Aquafilm 1284C treats metal surfaces and not the water to help solve corrosion issues in closed loops.  
Watertech's Polydose line of products improves the efficiency and maintenance of cooling water systems. 
If you want to be the MVP at your facility, huddle up and collaborate with your team.  
RO systems require regular maintenance to maintain their efficiency and effectiveness. 
How to handle large volumes of FOG in your waste stream. 
Learn how Aquafilm effectively treats systems and helps save on energy and water usage.  
Several items should be considered when specifying the proper side stream filtration system. 
5 Things operators ignore, then look to blame on their water treater. 
When working with chemicals, it is important to understand safety procedures and what to do in the event of a chemical release.  
The food and beverage industry is growing, and the demand for water treatment is growing with it.  
This is a great time to review accomplishments and plan for the new year.  
A few adjustments to your boiler or cooling system can save a significant amount of energy.  
Phosphonates can make meeting phosphorus discharge limits even more challenging. 
Learn what to do when you encounter unexpected results with your system's water quality. 
Learn about the negative effects of sub cooled condensate in your heat exchanger.  
Kinetic leaders can help their organization easily pivot and respond to challenges. 
Now is the time to work with your provider to come up with a contingency plan for supply chain challenges. 
Biocides can be used for many applications including healthcare, food & beverage, industrial, and commercial. Choosing the proper disinfection technology is critical. 
Advanced water treatment sensors can improve system performance. 
Cooling tower cleanings are essential for maintaining a safe and healthy cooling system.  
Boiler inspection time is validation time. This is the best opportunity to see how your water treatment program is working.  
Now is the time to ensure your system's HVAC coils are freeze protected and working properly. A frozen coil not only causes water damage, there is also the replacement cost and downtime for repairs when it is least convenient. 
If you want to achieve predictable results from your water treatment program, you need a 3-pronged approach. 
EndoTherm is an additive that is proven to reduce energy usage in heating and cooling closed loop recirculating systems.  
Being proactive and thorough in your approach to maintenance saves time and money in the long run.  
How to manage bacterial growth in cooling towers. 
Aquafilm-V delivers some dramatic results and improvements. 
Many businesses are experiencing delays, shortages and price increases in the wake of the pandemic. 
The regulations are coming. What are you going to do about PFAS / PFOS? 
If you are relying on a municipal water source a dechlorination process may be necessary prior to discharge. 
Is Your Plant’s Pre-Treatment Equipment A Top Priority? For Watertech, it is!  
Guidance and recommended actions for returning water systems to regular use. 
Watertech offers a complete range of flexible business solutions to manage our customers’ needs.  
Watertech offers products and solutions to help meet your sustainability efforts.  
Use these calculations to help determine if it might be time to consider using an Anti-Scalant. 
HVAC cooling tower shutdown and cleaning recommendations from Watertech, OSHA, CDC and CTI.  
Stagnant water in a plumbing system can drastically increase the risk of exposure to Legionella and other harmful water borne pathogens. 
Watertech: Swipe right to build a great vendor relationship! 
What is the Impact of an RO System on a Boiler Water Treatment Program? 
Improving condensate return can save on water, energy and chemicals. 
The Impact of Stagnant Water on Industrial and Potable Water Systems 
Why should water treatment automation be a top priority? 
Happy 40th Anniversary Watertech! 
How to manage your boiler system when results are out of range.  
Give Thanks for Water 
5 Deaerator problems to watch for to help ensure high quality feed water. 
Learn how the salt you choose can have a significant impact on system performance. 
Filming agents prevent scale and corrosion by forming a protective layer on all metal surfaces. 
Tips to keep sensors clean and working effectively to help avoid operational challenges that are costly to correct.  
The number one threat to business development is access to fresh water. This has prompted more to seek careers in the water industry. 
How to manage your cooling system when results are out of range.  
Advancements and innovations in water treatment equipment and controllers make life easier, but more importantly, provide ways to achieve better and more accurate results. 
When boiler water turns to steam solids are left behind. Bottom blowdown and surface blowdown are two methods to reduce solids and help maintain your system. 
Side stream filtration is an important but often overlooked component of an effective cooling water treatment program. 
January is a great time to reassess business strategies and include some water treatment resolutions that could improve the health of your company. 
Water and energy are very much interrelated and dependent upon one another, this co-dependency is called the Water-Energy Nexus. 
Are you considering a chemical-free, cooling water treatment solution? It is important to fully understand your system design and the unique characteristics of your application when making a decision. 
Canned Water for Kids (cW4K) is a great local charity that is making a global impact to help ensure all children have access to clean, safe drinking water. 
Ordering and receiving a glycol delivery should be a fairly straightforward and easy process; however, it takes some insight and planning to avoid complications.  
Making changes in how you use salt in your facility can help protect our fresh water resources, and potentially reduce your operating costs.  
Softeners are a critical component to the water treatment system. They help remove minerals to reduce scale and build-up in piping and heat transfer equipment. 
Sloppy sludge is a challenge in wastewater treatment. It pays to be informed on treatment equipment and how chemicals can impact this process. 
Having a team that has been trained in proper safety procedures and practices ensures not only their own safety, but also the safety of customers. 
The water characteristics of Waukesha’s existing water supply and Lake Michigan water are quite different and will require users to consider how they manage their boiler and cooling water water treatment.. 
Learning how to properly install and maintain your boiler conductivity electrode will help improve the performance of your boiler. 
A holiday blog highlighting 12 days of service in the water industry. Happy 2017. Thank you for your partnership. 
Have You Hugged Your Boiler Today?
How you maintain and operate your steam boiler has a direct effect on the amount of energy, water and chemicals it uses. 
This article outlines a few common problems that can damage or destroy a boiler. Providing proper water treatment and regular maintenance can help prolong equipment life.  
Industrial facilities use large amounts of fresh water. By reducing water usage, facilities also achieve reduced energy cost, chemical cost savings, and other benefits. 
While it is important to be compliant with the latest laws and regulations, the focal point of any effective Water Management Plan should put patient safety first.  
Sanitizers are required in food and beverage facilities. Choosing the right sanitizer can impact wastewater treatment.  
When a vendor relationship is built on trust, good communication, and a sincere investment in your business, it will drive meaningful value and a sustained competitive advantage. 
Choosing the right biocide saves money, by reducing downtime and maintenance costs, and increasing production efficiency.  
The time invested in preparation for cooling system start-up can pay big dividends later in the season. 
Proper preparation in the preseason is critical to ensure system efficiency, sustainability, and dependability. 
An effective employee training strategy can help employees be more productive, confident and boost moral. 
Bioaugmentation can be a game-changer for wastewater management, breaking down organic matter and cleaning up waste streams.  
A comparison of feedwater tanks and deaerators for storing and treating boiler feedwater.