Can Reclaimed Water Be Used as Cooling Tower Makeup Water?

With increasing pressure on industrial water consumption, reclaimed water is becoming an option for cooling tower makeup water. It can reduce the use of fresh water, but the water quality must be evaluated before selecting the cooling tower fill.

Reclaimed Water Is Not the Same as Fresh Water

Reclaimed water may contain higher levels of dissolved solids, suspended solids, nutrients, organic matter, or other contaminants. Once the water circulates and concentrates inside the cooling tower, these characteristics can become more significant.

Why Fill Compatibility Matters

Water quality affects the tendency for scaling, fouling, and biological deposits inside the cooling tower. These deposits can interfere with the air-water contact surface of the cooling tower fill.

For some industrial applications, proper pretreatment and water-treatment control are therefore necessary before reclaimed water is used as tower makeup.

Check the Water Before Choosing the Fill

• TSS and turbidity
• Hardness and alkalinity
• Chloride and sulfate
• Silica and conductivity
• Organic and biological content

Fill Selection Should Follow the Water Condition

The goal is not simply to find a more resistant fill. The cooling tower, water-treatment program, operating concentration, and fill material should be considered as one system.

Our team can review the reclaimed water analysis together with the tower design and help determine a suitable cooling tower fill and material for the application.

Related Cooling Tower Products

750MM × 1600MM SPLASH GRID FILL FOR WATER QUALITY DEMANDING APPLICATIONS |CROSS FLOW COOLING TOWER FILL FOR WATER QUALITY APPLICATIONS