Abstract

Abundant supplies of fresh water are essential to the development of industry. Enormous quantities are required for the cooling of products and equipment, for process needs, for boiler feed, and for sanitary and potable water supply. This article gives details on the various impurities found in water and how the water is treated to make it acceptable for industrial use. Clarification, precipitation, settling, filtration, ion exchange, and membrane processes are all detailed. Particular attention is given to corrosion control in boilers. Condensate systems can be chemically treated to reduce metal corrosion, especially important in cooling systems. Types of corrosion, eg, pitting, galvanic corrosion, are discussed. Deposit accumulations in cooling systems, biofouling and microfouling organisms are also summarized.