Cooling Water Treatment Solutions
                     Cooling Water Treatment Solutions
Water Treatment Services is a leading independent UK 
environmental engineering company offering a comprehensive range 
of cooling water treatment and in-field engineering support 
solutions for cooling systems including evaporative condensers and 
cooling towers.
Our treatment solutions for cooling systems including cooling towers address 
the common problems of corrosion, scaling, fouling and microbial 
contamination that can affect the safety, regulatory compliance and 
performance of cooling systems.
Our water management services are delivered by in-field experts who use the 
latest high performance cooling water treatment products including 
biocides, chemical cleaners and antiscalants; commercial water softeners, 
equipment and data controllers to help reduce costs, enhance operational 
efficiency and reliability; extend asset lifecycles and improve safety and 
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requirements of the Health & Safety Executives Approved Code of Practice 
AOCuOr ePx Lp8e artn wd aHtSerG t2r7e4a.tment services for cooling systems including 
evaporative condensers and cooling towers includes:
• COOLING TOWER WATER TREATMENT & SERVICING
In-field cooling system and cooling tower water treatment, engineering 
support and maintenance services to control corrosion, scaling, fouling and 
microbial contamination including Legionella bacteria.
• REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
Cooling system compliance solutions to meet the legal standards set in the 
HSE’s ACOP L8 and HSG274.
• CHEMICALS & EQUIPMENT
We use high performance cooling water treatment products, commercial water softeners, and dosing and 
data control equipment to support our in-field services.
• MONITORING & VALIDATION
Latest water analysis equipment to monitor and validate cooling system treatment programme performance.
• LABORATORY TESTING
Water sampling and laboratory testing for Legionella bacteria, Pseudomonas and other important 
parameters.
• ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Expert investigation and analysis to identify process improvement and energy efficiencies involving cooling 
towers, cooling systems, HVAC and heat transfer processes… energy efficiency →
Full national UK coverage
With offices in London serving the South and South East England, 
Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South 
East England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East) and Glasgow 
(Scotland), supported by regional teams of specially trained engineers, in-
field cooling water treatment specialists and technical experts we can offer 
professional, cost effective solutions for the management and continued 
treatment of open-recirculating cooling towers, closed-loops and once-
through cooling systems across the whole of the UK and Ireland.
Contact us today to learn how our expert cooling water treatment services, 
Legionella control, cooling tower engineering solutions can help you optimise 
costs and operational efficiencies, reduce downtime, achieve water and 
energy savings, increase plant reliability, and improve safety and regulatory 
compliance to meet the standards set by the HSE in their ACOP L8.
To speak with one of our cooling water experts call us on 0330 223 31 31 or 
simply use the button below.
Cooling water treatment services
Cooling systems, whether open-recirculating cooling towers, closed-loops or 
once-through systems are an essential component in many commercial, 
industrial and process environments where their primary purpose is to 
remove heat via a heat exchanger to water in a cooling system.
The most common of these are recirculating systems that use either 
evaporative condensers or a cooling tower to dissipate heat. The use of water 
in this way is a highly cost effective, energy efficient means of heat transfer.
Problems affecting water cooled systems
If a cooling system or the water used within it is poorly maintained or left 
untreated it can lead to a number of common problems that will affect cost, 
performance, reliability and safety.
The problems associated with poor cooling water treatment and system 
maintenance include corrosion, scaling, fouling and microbial contamination.
 CORROSION
  CORROSION
 SCALING
 FOULING
 MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION
Such problems can affect cooling performance, reduce heat transfer 
efficiencies, increase energy costs; reduce asset reliability and life-
expectancy, and cause significant health, safety and regulatory compliance 
issues for the operators of such cooling systems.
To combat these problems cooling systems and the water used within them 
requires suitable treatment often involving the use of specialist high 
performance water treatment chemicals.
Successful treatment of cooling systems
Successful cooling system operation requires a holistic approach to the 
maintenance and protection of both the cooling system components and 
cooling waters against the detrimental effects of corrosion, scale formation, 
fouling and microbial contamination.
A well-managed cooling tower water treatment programme will help optimise 
costs and operational efficiencies, reduce downtime, achieve water and 
energy savings, increase plant reliability, and improve safety and regulatory 
compliance.
Water Treatment Services holistic approach to successful cooling system management involves 
control of the following issues:
• CORROSION CONTROL
Appropriate measures to control unwanted system corrosion caused by oxygen associated 
corrosion, galvanic corrosion and microbially influenced corrosion (MIC).
• SCALE CONTROL
Controlling the precipitation and accumulation of hardness scales on to heat exchange 
surfaces, pipe work and other internal surfaces.
• CONTROL OF FOULING
Controlling system fouling to reduce blockages, improve heat transfer 
efficiencies, and maintain flow rates.
• CONTROLLING MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION
Controlling microbial contamination and biofouling to ensure suitable 
standards of water hygiene and regulatory compliance are achieved.
Controlling corrosion in cooling tower water systems
The control of corrosion in cooling systems is essential as it can cause a 
number of serious problems. Corrosion of the metallic components within the 
system can lead to serious degradation issues, increased costs, reduced 
asset reliability and life-expectancy, and ultimately system failure. It can also 
impact heat transfer efficiencies which increases energy costs.
Cooling water related corrosion can be caused by a number of factors that 
typically include oxygen associated corrosion, galvanic corrosion and 
microbially influenced corrosion (MIC). 
Where stainless steel exists chloride ions can also become an issue causing 
pitting corrosion.
The relationship between corrosion and scaling potential in cooling waters 
can be predicted using the Langelier Saturation Index (LSI).
The system should be kept clean and free from microbial contamination and 
fouling. A specialist cooling water corrosion inhibitor, selected to account for 
the system metallurgy and local water conditions should also be used.
Scale control in cooling water systems
The formation of scale (sometimes called limescale) on heat 
exchanger surfaces and cooling tower packing can become a 
significant issue. If left untreated or treated incorrectly scale can 
build-up on surfaces and acts as an excellent insulator to reduce heat 
transfer efficiencies and constrict flow rates. It can also harbour 
dangerous pathogens including legionella bacteria, the causative 
organism for the potentially fatal condition Legionnaires’ disease.
The scaling potential of the water source depends on the source 
water hardness, and occurs when calcium and magnesium salts 
precipitate out on to surfaces as a result of heat and increased 
concentration factor. The scaling potential can be predicted using the 
Langelier Index (LSI) and this can be used to develop an optimum 
cooling water treatment programme that balances both scale and 
corrosion considerations.
To control scale formation in a typical cooling system the following 
water treatment activities should be considered.
•Pre-filtration or clarification of the water to remove suspended solids 
present.
•Cooling water treatment chemicals using specialist polymer dispersants to 
ensure suspended solids remain mobile.
•Side stream filtration of to remove suspended solids and clean cooling 
circuit.
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Microbial contamination of cooling systems, and in particular, cooling towers 
that use open evaporative cooling techniques should be considered a safety 
critical issue that requires careful management and control to ensure they 
are clean, well maintained and meet the compliance standards set in the 
Health & Safety Executives ACOP L8 and HSG274 Part 1 dealing with the 
control of Legionella bacteria and Legionnaires’ disease in evaporative 
cooling systems, including cooling towers.
Cooling towers are known to present a particularly high Legionella risk as 
their mode of operation can create an ideal mechanism for the growth, 
proliferation and dispersal of Legionella bacteria over wide areas, now known 
to be at least 6km from the source cooling tower.
Did you know that cooling towers can spread Legionella bacteria over wide 
areas… at least 6km in some cases
Controlling microbial contamination including Legionella in cooling towers 
requires a robust water treatment and Legionnaires’ disease control 
programme. This would typically include the preparation of detailed operation 
and maintenance procedures for the cooling tower together with a chemical 
water treatment programme involving the use of specialist cooling water 
treatment chemicals, dosing equipment and data controllers.
Regular monitoring and testing will also be required to validate the success of 
the treatment programme, along with specialist laboratory tests for 
Legionella bacteria at least every three months. The cooling tower system 
will also require cleaning and disinfecting regularly.
Additionally, the Health & Safety Executive’s ACOP L8 requires that you:
RESPONSIBLE PERSON
Appoint a suitably competent person who has sufficient authority and knowledge of the water 
systems to ensure compliance with the law, referred to as the responsible person.
LEGIONELLA RISK ASSESSMENT
Carry out a legionella risk assessment to identify the risks.
WRITTEN SCHEME
Prepare a written scheme for preventing or controlling the risks from legionella and 
Legionnaires’ disease.
LEGIONELLA CONTROL
Implement, manage and monitor the legionella control measures required.
RECORD KEEPING
Keep records of all the legionella control measures implemented and performance results.
Cooling water treatment training
The industrial and process water treatment specialists at Water Treatment Services have 
developed an extensive series of professional water and wastewater treatment training courses 
that includes WTS 0050 “Cooling Water Treatment & Evaporative Cooling Systems”. This 
specialist water treatment training course comprises an intensive one day course designed for 
plant operators, water treatment service engineers, facilities managers, maintenance and 
engineering contractors, and those with responsibility for commercial and industrial cooling 
towers and other cooling systems… training →
Expert cooling water treatment services & support
Contact Water Treatment Services today to discuss your cooling tower water treatment 
requirements. We can provide expert advice and support regarding the management and 
treatment of open-recirculating cooling towers, closed-loops and once-through cooling systems.
With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North 
West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South East England and Wales), Leeds (North and 
North East) and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of specially trained engineers, 
in-field water treatment specialists and technical experts we can offer reliable, cost effective 
water treatment and engineering support services throughout the UK and Ireland.
Contact us today for more information or for your FREE, no obligation quote.