Commercial Water Treatment FAQ

R2J is a leading industrial and commercial water treatment company serving businesses in the Tamp Bay area and cities throughout Florida. As water treatment consultants with more than 150 years of combined experience, we take pride in providing our customers with the guidance and turnkey service they need to keep the water-using equipment at their facilities running smoothly. If you have questions about commercial water treatment, our team of experienced specialists is here to help. Our frequently asked questions about industrial and commercial water treatment is a great place to start.

What is Commercial Water Treatment?

Simply put, commercial water treatment is any process that alters the physical or chemical makeup of water in a building. There are two primary techniques. Water filtration is used to physically capture and remove abrasive solids in water. Chemical water treatment is used to adjust water on a chemical level, altering its acidity, alkalinity, and other characteristics.

Why is Commercial Water Treatment Important?

A robust commercial water treatment program is a critical part of any business’ maintenance plan. Water being fed into your building’s systems is rife with solids and contaminants that can cause biological fouling, scale, and corrosion—all of which can compromise equipment and lead to a surge in water and energy costs. Commercial water treatment protects your equipment and can even prevent the outbreak of certain waterborne diseases.

What Causes Scale & Corrosion in Cooling Towers & Boilers?

As stated above, groundwater entering your building has impurities. At a chemical level, corrosion occurs when these impurities react with metal plumbing, causing them to dissolve and potentially resulting in expensive repairs. Scale, on the other hand, can build up within your building’s plumbing, decreasing flow rates and putting ever-increasing pressure on your water-using equipment.

How to Choose a Commercial Water Treatment Company

It’s rarely a good idea to have your own maintenance staff handle your commercial water treatment program, as executing it correctly requires experience and specialized knowledge. Instead, it’s best to work with a company that focuses exclusively on water treatment. Additionally, the company you choose should have a proven track record of success serving your area. Water conditions can vary widely by region, so selecting an experienced, local company is the best way to ensure excellent results.

How to Tell if Commercial Water Treatment Has Worked

An effective water treatment program should help to keep your water and energy usage flat and prevent costly equipment breakdowns. If you choose to work with a reputable water treatment company, they should provide you with ongoing reports. For example, as part of R2J’s turnkey service, we can provide ongoing water tests and adjust the water treatment program as needed. We can even remotely monitor equipment and change settings as the need arises.

How is Cooling Tower Water Treated?

Like any complex piece of commercial or industrial equipment, cooling towers require routine maintenance to prevent breakdowns and ensure efficient operation. Cooling tower water treatment is an important part of this maintenance plan. Cooling tower water treatment from R2J typically involves the application of custom chemical formulations that address suspended solids and other impurities that, left unchecked, can result in scale, corrosion, and biological fouling.

How is Boiler Water Treated?

As with cooling towers, water in commercial and industrial boilers is constantly replenished, which introduces impurities. R2J offers a variety of external and internal boiler water treatment solutions to prevent damaging scale and corrosion. For example, we offer custom chemical formulations, such as scale inhibitors, alkalinity boosters, and oxygen scavengers. Plus, we provide a variety of pre-treatments and the installation of any needed water treatment accessories.

Do I Need to Test My Building for Legionella?

Most buildings contain Legionella at some concentration, though it may not always be harmful. However, routine Legionella testing is an important part of any building owner’s responsibility to ensure unsafe levels can be detected and addressed before any of the building’s occupants can become sick. At R2J, we are partnered with CDC-Elite labs to provide accurate and fast testing services. Plus, we can provide remediation services, if needed.

How Often Should I Have Water Tested?

Frequent water testing is key to ensuring your water treatment program is working properly. The exact frequency will depend on a variety of factors, including the quality of water being fed into your systems and your building’s engineering specifications. An experienced water treatment company, such as R2J, will determine the best water testing intervals for your business.

How is Legionella Remediated?

If an unsafe concentration of Legionella is detected in your building’s water supply, a remediation plan should immediately be put into place. As experts in Legionella water treatment, R2J creates custom disinfection plans that account for the building’s engineering specifications and local plumbing codes. After introducing disinfectant, we flush out the system, perform follow-up testing, and repeat the process as needed.

How to Keep Potable Water Safe

Keeping your potable water systems free from microorganisms and contaminants is a key responsibility of any property owner or manager. To prevent the outbreak of waterborne diseases, it’s important to have an experienced commercial water treatment company provide regular testing. If unsafe levels of microorganisms, such as Legionella, are found, a remediation program should be implemented immediately.

At R2J, we also offer water safety plans and ongoing Legionella treatment solutions to ensure our customer’s water remains safer for occupants.

Is My Commercial Building at Risk for Legionella?

Legionella contamination is a risk for any commercial or industrial property, and the only way to remain protected is through ongoing testing. However, certain factors can increase the risk of contamination. For example, stagnated water in potable water systems, either due to inactivity or flow restrictions, can easily allow Legionella to proliferate. Additionally, buildings with cooling towers that are open to the atmosphere can provide an entry point for Legionella, thereby increasing risk. An experienced water treatment company, such as R2J, can review your building’s engineering specifications and provide a more detailed risk assessment.