Industrial Water Treatment
Industrial water treatment is a necessary step for businesses to ensure quality standards are met and that equipment stays functional. It also helps minimize environmental pollution and saves costs by reducing energy consumption.
Water treatment eliminates impurities that can cause corrosion, scaling and fouling of equipment. This results in longer lifespans and lowered maintenance costs.
Pretreatment
Industrial water pretreatment is the removal of pollutants from wastewater before it is discharged to a public sewer. Depending on the treatment technique, the pollutants may be removed by screening, coagulation/flocculation, filtration or disinfection. Pretreatment reduces the amount of pollutants that is discharged into a public sewer, improves downstream efficiency and operations, and protects workers by reducing the risk of water-borne illness.
The first step in the pretreatment process is screening to capture coarse sediment, trash, debris and organic material. This allows the pretreatment process to focus on removing dissolved pollutants from the water. Pretreatment practices are rated as low, medium or high for relative pollutant removal abilities. The rating does not imply that the practice will exceed any numeric limit; rather, it reflects how well the practice removes contaminants from the industrial water.
Next, the water is treated to reduce its hardness. This is done through a series of chemical processes that change the water’s chemistry. Softening reduces the build-up of rust, scale and calcium deposits in heat exchangers, boilers and cooling towers. This improves heat transfer and energy efficiency, reducing operational costs. It also helps prevent equipment failure that can result in production interruptions. Additionally, proper treatment reduces the likelihood of noncompliance with water quality regulations and penalties.
Chemical Treatment
Industrial facilities use a variety of processes to produce wastewater that can be discharged, based on regulations and permit requirements, or reused in-process. Either way, these waste streams require treatment to reduce contaminants to meet water quality standards.
Discharged untreated industrial wastewater poses serious health and environmental hazards. It can contain pathogens, such as Outdoor Water Filter bacteria, viruses, and fungi, that could spread sickness or disease. It can also contain heavy metals, such as lead and mercury. And it can be rich in organic matter that can’t be biodegraded and may be toxic to organisms.
To address these threats, a facility must treat the incoming industrial wastewater using chemical processes. There are several different chemical treatments available, each of which is best suited for a specific set of contaminants. A facility may choose oxidation, coagulation, or flocculation, for example, to remove organic matter.
Other common industrial water treatments include filtering, softening, and dealkalization. Filtration helps to remove sediment, organic material, and turbidity. Softening reduces hardness in the wastewater by adding a lime solution. And dealkalization reduces alkalinity to minimize scale buildup downstream.
The final step in the industrial water treatment process is disinfection. Chlorine is added to the treated industrial wastewater to kill harmful bacteria, leaving pure water reusable for processing. While most industrial facilities try to minimize the amount of wastewater they produce, their operations invariably create some. An industrial water plant can help them Portable water purification straw treat this wastewater so it’s safe to discharge into a creek, river, lake, or ocean.
Refinement
The purpose of water refinement is to create the ideal water condition for a specific use or application. This may involve adjusting the water’s pH level, adding chlorine or salt, softening it, or removing harmful minerals and contaminants.
Industrial water treatment ensures that the water used in industrial processes meets strict standards for safety and quality. This helps businesses avoid costly penalties and ensures that products meet customer expectations. It also protects equipment and prevents contamination of surrounding ecosystems.
Without proper industrial water treatment, piping and cooling towers could experience scaling, biological contamination and corrosion. These problems can ultimately lead to system failure and significant operational downtime. Effective industrial water treatment solutions help to prevent these issues by removing harmful mineral salts, hydrogen sulfide gas and other contaminates from the water supply.
Industrial water treatment also focuses on optimizing energy efficiency by reducing the amount of energy needed to operate equipment. Scale, biofilm and other deposits on heat exchangers and boilers negatively impact the energy efficiency of these systems by narrowing pipes and increasing pressure loss. Removing these deposits through water treatment significantly reduces energy costs and minimizes operational expenses.
Disinfection
During disinfection, water is treated with a chemical that kills or inactivates pathogens in the water. This step is critical to prevent contamination of the effluent with bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa that could lead to infection in humans, animals, or plants. This process can be accomplished in many ways, such as through aeration (passing water through small holes to agitate it), filtration (removing large particles by mechanical means like sand filters or contact/trickling filters), or disinfection by ultraviolet radiation.
Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a fast, inexpensive method for disinfecting water. It destroys the bacteria, viruses, and Cryptosporidium oocysts present in the water but does not improve its taste or appearance. Small, portable battery-operated units that deliver a metered dose of UVR can effectively disinfect 1-2 liters of water at a time.
Implementing industrial water treatment is an essential part of any business that produces or uses a lot of water, as it removes harmful substances and contaminants that would otherwise affect the quality of the water used to manufacture products or for general operations. This helps to prevent equipment corrosion, scaling, and fouling, which ultimately leads to higher energy efficiency and reduced maintenance costs. It also reduces environmental pollution by preventing pollutants from being discharged into lakes, rivers, or oceans, safeguarding aquatic life and ecosystems and contributing to a sustainable future.