We have had a TowerKlean system for some three years now and it is working great. We've gone from chemically treated water that was so dirty you could not see to the bottom of our reservoir tank. Now we use no chemicals and have a tap water clear reservoir.
What I would like to know is what I should be doing to make sure the water quality is within acceptable limits. I am now responsible for the enviromental aspects of our facility so I want to make sure there is no bad bacterias and that things like the "ph" level in the water are within acceptable limits. Although we would not do so I want to see if the water is drinkable. Can it hold up to this kind of test?
The testing that is required for maintenance of your TowerKlean system involves five parameters. It should be checked for Calcium, Magnesium, Conductivity, pH and Zinc.
The calcium and magnesium are tested to determine the ratio between the two. This is critical for proper operation since the magnesium level must be kept below that of the calcium. Conductivity or specific conductance is tested to determine the cycles of concentration or your evaporation and water use efficiency. It is also helpful to determine whether or not the backwash is performing properly. The pH is monitored for corrosion protection determination and to make sure that the media is clean and reacting properly. The pH will normally elevate to the range of 8.5 - 9.0. Finally zinc is tested to determine proper media performance. In a properly maintained, the zinc should be between 0.1 and 0.5 mg/l on tower systems and 0.1 and 2.0 on closed loops.
These tests are available from TowerKlean, LLC for a nominal fee. Included with the tests are analysis of the data and reports of the findings.
The bacteria levels should be checked periodically by an independent lab that can verify the "total plate count". I recommend that this be done quarterly. Specific tests can also be performed on the legionella bacteria to determine its presence. You can contact TowerKlean, LLC for specific recommendations.
Regarding the issue of potability of the water, this water should not be used for drinking water. It should be regarded as non-contact cooling water and not used for domestic purposes.
