Water Is Not ‘One Size Fits All’: Deciphering The Message In A Bottle
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
When industrial water treatment specialist G-Chem Aquacare looks at a water sample, it sees far more than just water. Every source has its own chemical fingerprint, influenced by geography, environmental conditions and human activity. Understanding those differences is critical to ensuring water is fit for purpose in industrial applications.
According to G-Chem Aquacare CEO Shaun Golding, one of the biggest misconceptions in industry is that all water can be treated the same way. “Many companies assume that if water is safe to drink, it will also be suitable for industrial processes. In reality, water that is perfectly acceptable for human consumption can still cause severe scaling, corrosion and operational issues in boilers, cooling towers and manufacturing systems,” he explains.
The first step in any successful water treatment programme is understanding how the water will be used. Water intended for flushing toilets, washing floors, cooling equipment, generating steam or serving as potable water may all require different treatment standards. This raises an important question for industry: should companies produce premium-quality water for an entire site, or tailor treatment to different applications? In many cases, a combination approach delivers the best balance between performance and cost. Lower-grade water can be used for non-critical applications, while technologies such as reverse osmosis (RO) are reserved for processes requiring higher water quality.
Water Security and Operational Reliability
For industrial facilities, water treatment is about far more than compliance. It plays a direct role in reducing downtime, maintaining equipment performance and ensuring business continuity. South African industry has already experienced the consequences of water insecurity. During Cape Town’s Day Zero crisis, many companies found themselves scrambling for alternative supplies as municipal water availability became increasingly uncertain. Businesses turned to boreholes, well points and private water sources to keep operations running. However, alternative water sources often introduce new challenges.
“Water quality can change dramatically throughout the year,” says Golding. “Seasonal rainfall, agricultural runoff and changing catchment conditions can significantly alter dissolved solids and mineral content.” A recent West Coast project demonstrated the benefits of a tailored treatment strategy. G-Chem Aquacare treated fluctuating source water through pre-filtration and reverse osmosis before it was used in boiler systems. The result was improved efficiency, reduced fuel consumption, lower chemical usage and less downtime.
Good Water Stewardship Matters
As natural water quality declines and infrastructure ages, businesses are being forced to invest more heavily in treatment technologies. “In the past, many companies could use water directly from natural sources with minimal treatment,” says Golding. “Today, higher levels of contamination, bacteria and dissolved solids often require additional filtration, ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis systems.” While many organisations recognise the need for investment, rushed decisions can create costly long-term problems.During the Day Zero crisis, numerous companies installed boreholes and treatment plants as quickly as possible to secure water supplies. While understandable, some failed to fully assess how the treated water would interact with existing infrastructure.
One Eastern Cape manufacturing facility learned this lesson the hard way. To overcome unreliable municipal supply, the company installed multiple boreholes and a large treatment plant. Reverse osmosis water was distributed throughout the factory without considering its impact on equipment. Because low-mineral RO water can be highly aggressive if not properly stabilised, it corroded significant portions of the facility’s pipework and equipment, resulting in substantial repair costs. “Good intentions are not enough,” Golding says. “Water treatment decisions need to be based on proper planning and specialist input.”
Beyond the Municipal Meter
Municipalities are generally responsible for water quality only up to the point of delivery. Beyond that, businesses must ensure the water is suitable for their specific operational requirements. Recent examples from hotels and commercial developments highlight how changing municipal water quality can create unexpected challenges. In some cases, unusually low mineral content has resulted in aggressive water that accelerates corrosion in hot-water systems.To protect infrastructure, these organisations have had to implement additional treatment measures such as corrosion inhibitors and remineralisation systems. “People are becoming increasingly aware that water is not simply ‘water’,” Golding observes.
Looking Ahead
Poor water treatment has serious consequences, including reduced equipment efficiency, shortened asset life and increased health and safety risks. Regional differences further complicate the picture. In the Western Cape, corrosion is often the primary concern, while in Gauteng, scaling and under-deposit corrosion are more common challenges. Despite this, water treatment frequently represents only a small fraction of a facility’s operating costs compared with the value of the assets being protected. Looking ahead, Golding believes water recycling and Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems will become increasingly important as water scarcity intensifies.
“The technology already exists, and South Africa will increasingly move towards water recycling and reuse as water shortages become more prevalent,” he says. For modern industry, water treatment is no longer simply a maintenance function. It has become a strategic operational requirement directly linked to sustainability, production reliability, asset protection and long-term cost control. The message is clear: water is not homogeneous, and it is certainly not limitless. Understanding the difference could be the key to keeping industrial operations running efficiently in an increasingly water-constrained world.
G-Chem Aquacare,
+27 (0) 86 000 0307,
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