FEATURE


WATER TREATMENT: AN EVOLUTION IN SAFETY


Ahead of World Water Day on 22nd March, Simona Vasilescu, Marketing and Technology Director for Chem-Aqua at NCH Europe, looks at why clean water is essential for facilities and how water management in a facility and its supply chain, can drive cost reduction and increase sustainability.


The water cycle Water is a fundamental component of our world. Humans are made up of about 60% water and 71% of the earth’s surface is dedicated to holding its 326,000,000,000,000,000,000 (326 million trillion) gallons of water. Water flows through everything we do; it is you, your food, the clouds above your head and the puddles beneath your feet.


Yet, only 3% of all the water on Earth is considered fresh water, and five-sixths of that 3% is locked up in glaciers, soil, clouds or otherwise unavailable for human use.


Traditionally, water treatment products come in a liquid form. Apart from chemical actives, they contain up to 85% water.


Although still considered standard practice in the industry, liquid water treatment products aren’t always the best fit for a facility. They present safety and environmental concerns that too often are thought of as an inherent part of the treatment.


https://www.usbr.gov/mp/arwec/water-facts-ww-water-sup.html#:~:text=3%25%20of%20the%20earth’s%20water,water%20is%20available%20fresh%20water.


Water is essential for life on Earth, for keeping us healthy, but the WHO estimates that by 2025, half the world will be living in water-stressed areas. The responsible management of water as a resource comes in many forms. It is something we are all involved in to one extent or another.


How water treatment can help you


reduce water use in buildings Almost all facilities have a domestic water system in place. Some also have dedicated water systems to serve their cooling or heating needs, such as cooling towers, steam boilers or closed systems. Just as we need to protect the water cycle of the planet, there are ways to minimise the water usage in these systems while maintaining their efficient and reliable operation and protecting the health of the facility and its tenants.


Applying water treatment to these systems prevents the build-up of scale, corrosion and the proliferation of microbes, including dangerous bacteria such as Legionella.


One way water treatment can help reducing water usage is to utilise advanced chemistry. Products using state of the art chemistry are required in minimal amounts, yet are very effective in preventing build up and deposition, while maintaining fresh water ingress at a minimum.


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Transporting and delivering large liquid drums, especially in cities and high populated areas, becomes more and more challenging. Drums need to be moved around a facility using a trolley or platform truck. When they pass through office spaces, up or down steps, or through tight spaces, the potential for accidents increases.


“The WHO estimates that by


2025, half the world will be living in water-stressed areas.”


Also, the number of resources, packaging and landfill waste associated with liquid water treatment programs can be surprising. Depending on the facility and how performant the chemistry in use is, dozens of drums may be required annually. The water and fossil fuel required to fill, manufacture and ship these drums deplete valuable natural resources.


https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20181212STO21610/plastic-waste-and-recycling-in-the-eu-facts-and-figures


Empty containers must also be handled properly. They must be cleaned of all hazardous material and contaminants if they are to be effectively recycled. Otherwise they become part of the 70% of plastic in Europe that goes to landfills or incinerators. All these activities release harmful greenhouse gasses that leave a substantial carbon footprint.


A solid water treatment solution How can water treatment change to reduce the hazard potential for workers, facilities and the wider ecology?


Water treatment is a matter of chemistry. The efficacy of any product lies in its chemical formulation, rather than its delivery method. The water inherent in liquid products can be removed. This creates solid water treatment products that perform at least as well as liquids but in a safer, more sustainable way.


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