Water is critical to homes, businesses, and industries, and can be impacted by many natural contaminants and other additives. These impurities can be from natural sources, industrial processes, agricultural runoff or old pipes and pipes becoming disconnected. Ignored contaminants may affect the safety of the water, cause equipment problems and lead to lower productivity. It is important to know how a contaminant impacts water quality to determine the appropriate treatment solution.
There are three types of contaminants: physical, chemical and biological. Physical contaminants are those which are suspended in the water, such as sediment, sand, and suspended particles that cause water to appear cloudy. Chemical contaminants can affect the taste, odor, and safety of water, including chlorine, heavy metals, pesticides, and dissolved salts. Living organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and algae can cause health problems if not treated properly.
There are a number of operational issues associated with poor water quality. Hard water minerals cause piping, boiler and cooling system scaling, which leads to lower efficiency and higher maintenance costs. Sediments may foul filters and equipment and microbial contamination impacts the hygiene in commercial and industrial operations. The regular monitoring of water quality and the effective treatment are emphasized by these problems.
A variety of treatment processes are needed for various contaminants. Suspended solids and sediments are removed by filtration systems and activated carbon filters remove chlorine, odors and organic compounds. Reverse osmosis (RO) systems will work well to remove dissolved salts and other impurities. UV treatment and chemical treatment remove pathogens from water to make it safe for its intended use.
The selection of the proper water treatment solution will vary according to the source of the water, the contaminants it contains, and the application. Regular water testing allows identification of water quality issues and helps to maintain efficient treatment systems. Good maintenance also contributes to the reliability of the water treatment equipment and a longer lifespan.
A good water quality is important to protect equipment, promote efficient operation and safe water use. Through identification and treatment, businesses can save on maintenance costs, enhance system performance and ensure a reliable supply of clean high quality water for their business use.