An electrochemical water treatment technology has been shown to reduce water use and cut operating costs for facilities operating HVAC systems utilizing cooling towers, according to a report by the General Services Administration.

Following a multi-month study at the 242,000 ft² Juliette Gordon Low Federal Building in Savannah, Ga, the GSA researchers found that the system effectively treated the water without added chemicals and reduced water use by 32 percent. The study took place from July to October 2017.

The tested building has two cooling towers that had used chemical water treatment for the cooling water circulating through the two chiller condensers. The study sought to find alternative technologies to conserve energy and water.

As a result of the study, the researchers recommended government-wide adoption of the technology, which was provided by Dynamic Water Technologies, Scottsdale, Ariz.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory assessed Dynamic Water’s system during the study. Among the findings were that the electrochemical process could:

• Reduce water use as well as water or sewer costs by reducing the amount of blowdown required. Less blowdown allows the cooling tower system to operate at higher cycles of concentration.
• Reduce or eliminate the need for water treatment chemicals for scale, corrosion and biological growth.
• Increase chiller efficiency by preventing scaling and removing some of the existing scale. Reducing scale improves heat transfer.
• Maintain low corrosion rates.

According to Dynamic Water Technologies, the GSA report recommends government-wide adoption of the company’s electrochemical process water treatment technology.