A provider of electrochemical water treatment utilized technologies often used for process waters to help a federal facility in Georgia saved thousands of gallons of water and cut operating costs. Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Dynamic Water Technologies participated in the project as part of a government study to find alternative technologies to conserve energy and water. The results of the test project led to a recommendation of government-wide adoption of the company’s electrochemical process water treatment technology.

In late 2018, the General Services Administration released a report based on a multi-month study at the 242,000 ft2 Juliette Gordon Low Federal Building in Savannah, Ga. The building has two cooling towers that used chemical water treatment for the cooling water circulating through the two chiller condensers.

“Cooling tower-related water consumption is one of largest potable-water loads within buildings in the United States, with substantial building water use associated with heating and cooling,” the report notes. “Reducing water consumption is a priority .... These factors have brought about the investigation of cost-effective opportunities to reduce water use such as alternative water treatment technologies for cooling towers.”

The study took place from July to October in 2017. Researchers found that the electrochemical water treatment system effectively treated the water without the expense of added chemicals. It also reduced water use by 32 percent.

Mike Boyko, CEO of Dynamic Water Technologies, was not surprised by the results. Since founding the company a few years ago, he has been working to convince businesses and government agencies of the potential savings in water use that electrochemical water treatment can help realize.

Dynamic Water Technologies provides electrochemical treatment of process water, allowing facilities to use the water for 50 to 100 percent more cycles than chemical-based approaches, according to Boyko. Electrolysis and a minimal amount of bleach are used to treat the water and release it back into cooling towers onsite without acids or inhibitors. End users report operating cost savings as a result of not using acids and inhibitors, not paying for disposal of contaminated water, using less energy and reducing water usage as much as 40 percent in cooling systems.

“Participating in this government study is just another step toward showing how much more U.S. businesses can be doing to conserve water,” Boyko said. “We are thrilled with the results — and the GSA’s recommendation that our systems be used at additional governmental facilities.”

The Los Angeles City Hall is another facility using Dynamic Water Technologies’ system. The equipment was installed in July 2018 with data collected through the summer and fall. In just the first two months of operation, more than 250,000 gallons of water were saved.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory assessed the electrochemical water treatment system during the study. The study was to determine whether the electrochemical process would:

• Save water and water/sewer costs by reducing the amount of blowdown required, allowing the water cooling system to operate at higher cycles of concentration.
• Reduce or eliminate the need for water treatment chemicals to control scale, corrosion and biological growth.
• Increase chiller efficiency by preventing scaling and removing some of the existing scale, which improves heat transfer.
• Maintain low corrosion rates.

In all instances, Dynamic Water’s system met or exceeded expectations. Boyko said the results are similar at facilities worldwide that have installed and are using the electrochemical system to treat industrial process water.  

To learn more about Dynamic Water Technologies, call 480-289-2401 or visit www.dynamicwater.com.