Proper selection of water treatment stations

 

Water ensures the proper functioning of hospitals. A cold and hot water system is found in every healthcare facility. State-of-the-art equipment used nowadays in hospital systems are required to be supplied with properly treated water. The healthcare sector needs water for the following purposes:

 

•     As drinking water;
•     to feed devices at dialysis stations;
•     to supply steam boilers for the production of process steam ― for heating systems, laundries or hospital kitchens;
•     for clean steam generators ― for sterilization, air humidification and degasification.

 

For this reason, maintaining the serviceability of the installations and equipment mentioned above requires a water treatment station that is properly selected and functions efficiently. Water from the water supply system or water taken straight from a well is not suitable for immediate use - it requires the appropriate, professional water filtration system. Before we can use it as drinking water or in technical installations (humidification, sterilization, etc.), it is subjected to multi-stage treatment so that it ultimately fulfills the strict criteria required by the given application.

 

Water that will be used in, e.g., process steam systems or steam generators, must fulfill rigorous quality criteria defined by the manufacturers of the equipment in which it will be used. It must also be produced continuously, as a rule.

 

Treated water for hospitals

 

Hospitals are supplied with water from two sources: mains water and local wells, which are an alternative source of water supply for the facility. Depending on its origin, it may contain various types of microorganisms as well as metals such as iron, manganese, aluminium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and other chemical elements that negatively affect the operation of process equipment and water systems.

 

Substances contained in water supplied to a water treatment plant can be divided into three categories:

 

•     organic compounds containing carbon, including pesticides, herbicides and chloramines;
•     inorganic compounds that do not contain carbon: salts, minerals and chemicals;
•     heavy metals, which may occur naturally but are most often washed out from old pipes metal used to supply water.

 

Water treatment technology is important

 

For this reason, when designing and selecting a water treatment plant for process equipment, the appropriate treatment technology, guaranteeing water of the required parameters, must be determined. Raw water composition is an important factor taken into consideration when selecting a water treatment plant. Although it often meets the requirements for potable water, it requires additional treatment due to the requirements of the equipment it feeds.

 

• Mechanical filtration (reduction of mechanical impurities, protection of devices and water installations);
• Water softening (reduction of water hardness, protection and extension of the life of individual devices);
• Water disinfection (removal of dangerous bacteria and viruses from water);
• Hot water treatment (elimination of turbidity, corrosion and sediments in installations);
• Water filtration using activated carbon (reduction of chlorine, impurities, turbidity, odor or improvement of water taste);
• Removal of iron and manganese (getting rid of undesirable color and taste of water);
• Reverse osmosis (removal of all types of contaminants, production of ultra-pure water in humidification or cooling installations);
• Rainwater management (reduction of urban water consumption by using systems for using rainwater).