Common Water Treatment Design Mistakes
Water treatment is not only important for the purpose of making water potable, but it is also essential for various industrial applications. However, if you are charged with the task of treating water, there are several mistakes you'll want to avoid.
Using a Water Softener
Water softeners can be great for a home, but might not be enough for industrial applications. In some cases, you might need a demineralizer instead. The goal of a water softener is to remove certain minerals such as calcium, but this might not be enough for industrial applications. You may need a demineralizer that will create the purest possible water.
Not Accounting for Turbidity
Variation in turbidity can interfere with the ability of a water treatment facility to handle sludge. Turbidity refers to the cloudiness of water due to the number of particles that are suspended in it. When designing an effective water treatment system, you'll need to have at least a year's worth of data regarding the turbidity of the water. If the turbidity increases without the plant being ready to handle it, this can cause the water treatment plant to not be able to do its job.
Not Accounting for Flow
A variation in flow can impact turbidity. Many industrialists predict how much flow they will experience and their industrial facilities end up being ill-equipped to handle variations in flow. This can create an upset in the system and plug downstream filters. Fortunately, this problem can be solved by knowing what peak demand is and using holding tanks to tide your water treatment system over until peak demand subsides.
Ignoring the Precipitation of Dissolved Solids with Reverse Osmosis Filters
A common way to treat wastewater is through reverse osmosis. This method of water treatment is achieved through a chemical equilibrium. A membrane exists to separate freshwater from wastewater. While this water filtration system is very effective, a common mistake is to ignore the precipitation of dissolved solids.
The reverse osmosis system is a waste concentrator. As the waste builds up, this leads to precipitation. This leads to pressure drops and inefficiency. If insoluble solids are concentrated to the point where they build up, problems will arise as a result.
If you are concerned with your ability to treat water adequately, there are fortunately water treatment specialists who will install the right system for you and ensure that the water treatment plant has the capacity to handle your daily operations.
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