The first step in choosing a water treatment device is to have your water tested. Tests should be done at an independent, state certified lab.
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If the water test indicates that you have a problem, installation of a treatment system may be necessary to remedy it. Be aware that water treatment equipment has trade-offs. There is routine maintenance. Some systems may need to be periodically back-flushed, which will increase the wastewater load to your septic system. The treatment may remove one contaminant, yet add something else to your water. For example, an ion exchange system installed to remove iron and manganese, may add sodium to your drinking water, causing a potential problem for people with high blood pressure or on sodium-restricted diets. Be a good consumer and do your research when shopping for water treatment equipment. The following are questions you can ask a water treatment professional or the water well contractor who installed the well to determine the type of system needed. Background information follows many of the questions. The extent to which the manufacturer or distributor is willing to provide answers can assist you in making an informed choice.
Some water treatment companies include free in-home water testing in their services. Not all contaminants can be evaluated this way. For example, many man-made chemicals, which have been associated with serious health problems, must be analyzed in a laboratory with sophisticated equipment. The consumer must be wary of companies that claim that their home analyses determine more than basic water quality constituents such as hardness, pH, iron, and sulfur. Ideally, you should verify in-home tests with a water test conducted by a state certified laboratory. Once you’ve accurately determined what contaminants and characteristics your drinking water has, the level detected will dictate the type of treatment system. Factors to consider include whether the water presents a health hazard and how the levels detected compare to EPA Federal and/or State Drinking Water Quality Standards.
Make sure the company you choose to install your water system is reputable and established. How long has the company been in business, and is there a list of referrals you can contact? Ask the company for referrals and contact the referrals to find out if customers were satisfied.
Has the treatment system been tested by a third party organization, like the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International, to treat the specific contaminant in question? NSF International is a non-profit organization whose function is to set performance standards for water treatment equipment. It evaluates test results of the treatment device to determine if claims are realistic. Products that have been tested and certified by NSF and that meet their minimum requirements are entitled to display the NSF mark on the products or in advertising literature for products. Manufacturers and models that meet the applicable standard are included in a listing published twice a year.
Ask the sales representative which standards the product meets. Also, ask for test results showing that the specific contaminant(s) you need or want to remove will be addressed by the system you are considering. Tests by third party organizations (those neutral to and trusted by all interests served) should provide extra confidence.
Is a second opinion on treatment procedures and equipment necessary? Consider a second opinion on recommended water treatment equipment. Check with at least one additional dealer to see what treatment procedure and equipment is recommended, and ask questions. Compare at least two brands, and consult other references.
Depending on the type of contaminant and its concentration, you may need to treat all the water entering the house or only the water used for drinking and cooking. If the contaminant is only a problem when you drink it, such as lead, you may only need single tap or point-of-use (POU) treatment. POU treatment devices are typically installed at the kitchen faucet to treat water for drinking and cooking. However, if the contaminant is also hazardous when you get it on your skin or inhale it, for example a volatile organic compound or radon, you will need to treat all the water entering the house at the point-of-entry (POE). POE treatment devices are typically installed in the basement after the water pressure tank. Many treatment units are available in both POU and POE models, including granular activated carbon filters, reverse osmosis, and microfiltration units.
The consumer must be certain that enough treated water will be produced for everyday use. For example, distillation units produce 3-12 gallons of treated water daily depending on the model. In addition, the maximum flow rate of the treatment device should be sufficient for the peak home use rate. Consider installing a flow water meter to help determine what the peak home water use is.
The consumer must watch for hidden costs such as separate installation fees, monthly maintenance fees, or equipment rental fees. Additionally, the disposal of waste materials, such as spent cartridges from activated carbon units and used filters, can add to the cost of water treatment and should be figured into the purchase price. You may be able to install some treatment devices on your own. Ask the dealer for all costs involved in the installation and maintenance of the treatment system.
Regardless of whether you or your dealer provides the service, there is a cost. Filter cartridges must be changed, materials added as needed, and the water tested regularly to be sure things are working properly. Unserviced equipment may contribute to increased levels of some contaminants. Find out what supplies and equipment are needed, and the expected costs. Determine how often a filter membrane, ultraviolet light, or media will need to be changed and who is responsible for doing this. Ask the dealer if there are any other water quality conditions, like pH or sediments that can affect the effectiveness of the treatment system.
The cost of treated water in the home will vary depending upon the cost of electricity and the amount of energy required to operate the treatment unit. Ask about average monthly electrical use for the system you are interested in purchasing.
Many units have backup systems or shutoff valve functions to prevent consumption of untreated water.
Testing the water a month after the equipment is installed will assure the homeowner that the unit is accomplishing the intended treatment. Have the water tested at a state certified lab.
Additionally, water used for outside purposes should not have to be treated. This will provide you with a raw water tap, which can be periodically tested to compare the effectiveness of your treatment system. Water test results from the raw water tap will also help you to assess changes in your water quality.
How long is your new system expected to last? What is the length of the warranty period and what does the warranty cover? The warranty may cover only certain parts of a device. The consumer should be aware of the warranty conditions.
The consumer should be aware that some water treatment equipment works by adding something to your drinking water to remedy the problem at hand. For example, water softeners installed to remove iron may replace the iron removed from the water with sodium.
The purchase of water treatment equipment is a decision that must be carefully considered. Whether the purchase is being made to improve the aesthetic characteristics of the water or to address health considerations, many factors must be determined. You may want to keep a log book to keep track of water test results, and maintenance and repairs on your treatment system. The following key steps can be used as a checklist when selecting equipment.
For industrial companies producing wastewater as a byproduct of their process, some type of wastewater treatment system is usually necessary. Failing to properly treat your wastewater can potentially harm the environment, human health, and your process, in addition to causing your facility to incur heavy fines and possible legal action if it is being improperly discharged into a publicly owned treatment works (POTW) or to the environment under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES permit). The best wastewater treatment system will help the facility avoid these costly discharge and connection fees, among other problematic issues, and/or efficiently treat the wastewater for reuse.
But how do you choose the best wastewater treatment system for your plant?
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The answer to this question can sometimes be a bit complex and depends on a variety of factors. We’ve simplified and broken down what this might mean for your plant below:
There are three main factors that will help you choose the ideal wastewater treatment system:
Let’s break down each factor individually and simplify how these might affect your decisions:
One of the largest factors that will determine the best wastewater treatment system for a facility is the equipment that will go into the actual makeup of the system.
Here are some important questions to address:
All these factors will determine what type of wastewater treatment system is needed.
For example, if a plant runs a plating operation, some of the issues often addressed are pH stabilization and suspended solids and metals removal. A wastewater treatment system in this case will usually have some type of physical/chemical clarification and metals removal.
Another example could be a food-based plant with treatment needs for wastewater from manufacturing products like milk, dairy products, beverage making, etc. Typically with a food and beverage manufacturing facility, technology in the wastewater treatment system will revolve around the removal of biological contaminants (with technology such as membrane bioreactors, or MBRs) and oil/grease (with dissolved air flotation, or DAF).
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When it comes to handling wastewater, depending on what your facility is doing with the water will determine how you’re going to treat it and what technologies will go into the makeup of the system.
Two common discharge scenarios are described below:
If your facility plans to release your wastewater into the environment in the United States, you will need to do so under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System or NPDES permit. These permits, enforced under the Clean Water Act, places limitations on what can be discharged, set requirements for reports and monitoring, and are put in place to ensure pollutants are not released in harmful amounts. Your local regulations and the contaminants present in your wastewater will determine what treatment is necessary for your facility and what will go into your system. The EPA operates 10 different offices in the country that address different regions, so to make sure your facility is complying with local regulations, and be sure to check in with your local NPDES representatives. Failure to meet requirements could incur heavy fines.
Your local municipality might take your effluent, but chances are they’ll want you to clean it first. Check with your local publicly owned treatment works (POTW) to be sure you’re meeting their qualifications. Your wastewater treatment will need to remove the contaminants they don’t allow or, again, it can cost you thousands of dollars in fines down the road. The facility’s wastewater treatment system will need to address and remove any contaminants present to acceptable levels that are required when discharging into the local POTW.
A wastewater treatability study is a study or test that will determine how the wastewater can be treated for your process. If the study is done correctly, it will clearly identify the contaminants present in your wastewater stream, helping ensure the proper treatment solutions are considered and implemented in your wastewater treatment system.
This step is critically important when choosing the best wastewater treatment system for your plant. After having a roadmap of maybe two or three technology platforms that meet your base and operating cost, running an efficient treatability test will help validate the assumptions you’ve made about possible contaminations and solutions to remove them. This streamlines to process and takes out any guesswork, ensuring your facility is getting the best possible solution for your unique situation.
Also keep in mind that even though the study might seem thorough on paper, there’s nothing better than running pilot testing in the field to validate the treatment/technology assumptions, optimize design, because during this phase, other problems can arise and be found prior to choosing the components of your system, which can help save you from any effluent violations down the line.
Choosing the best wastewater treatment system for your plant is a very complex process and requires a substantial amount of effort and time to do it properly.
Now that you know the most important aspects to focus on, make sure you choose to work with an engineering company that can help you sort through all these requirements in order to choose the best system possible. Knowing the characterization of contaminants in your wastewater, local effluent regulations, and results of a thorough treatability study and pilot test will help steer you in the right direction.
SAMCO has over 40 years’ experience custom-designing and manufacturing wastewater treatment systems, so please feel free to reach out to us with your questions. For more information or to get in touch, contact us here. You can also visit our website to set up a call with an engineer or request a quote. We can walk you through the steps for developing the proper solution and realistic cost for your wastewater treatment system needs.
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