In the third installment of the 4 part series covering Legionella basics and prevention, we will briefly review cooling tower water treatment methods designed to control Legionella.  This is done by changing the conditions that are favorable for the bacterium’s growth. 

For cooling towers, the following methods are recommended for Legionella prevention:

This is the first part of a four-part series covering the basics of Legionella and the CDC recommended Water Treatment Program. 

As time passes, cooling tower systems are exposed to numerous elements, subjecting the system to contaminants which lead to process interference.

While a system’s set-point for each parameter will differ, properly adjusting these selective parameters can increase efficiency while decreasing maintenance costs. Water quality can be optimized through specific factors such as: conductivity, pH level, boiler condensate, hardness, and alkalinity.

Conductivity relates to a solution’s ability to transmit electric current, and determined by the amount of dissolved salts within the solution. As water is a poor electrical conductor, conductivity readings can indicate mineral concentration.

On our last post we discussed the benefits of using biocides within your cooling tower. This week, we take a closer look at specific categories of biocide and how they differ in functionality:

Biofouling occurs when microorganisms such as algae, fungi, and bacteria are abundant on​ ​the surfaces of cooling towers​, and the frequency of reoccurrence depends on your system’s operation (​as with ​open

Biofouling occurs when microorganisms such as algae, fungi, and bacteria are abundant on the surfaces of cooling towers​, this depends on a lot of factors, like the temperature, exposure to sunlight, the source of the water, and even your system’s operation. The cool, moist environment within cooling towers ​can ​provide optimal conditions for microbial growth, which has a significant effects on the performance of the system.
 

While Earthwise Environmental manages the performance of the water in the pipes, we also recommend​ a preventative maintenance plan for your cooling tower regardless of age, model, or manufacturer. Cooling tower preventative maintenance programs incorporate continuous monitoring to maintain normal operating conditions and early identification of problematic areas. While each manufacturer has specific recommendations on preventative maintenance programs in general, good housekeeping can be categorized into monthly, quarterly, and annual intervals. 

While water treatment focuses on particulate smaller than 40 microns, larger debris can be removed through a filtration system. The combination can optimize your cooling tower’s system by:

• Lowering cost of chemical treatment
• Optimizing your water treatment program
• Maintaining heat transfer efficiency and increasing system life