Sustainable Water Treatment

Here's a look at three sustainable approaches to water treatment that can help facilities improve system performance, support sustainability efforts, and simplify day-to-day water treatment decisions.  

Purified Tannins for Steam Boilers

If you’re looking for a simpler way to support boiler performance while reducing water and energy use, purified tannins offer a practical and sustainable option. Tannins have been used in water treatment for some time, but the purified tannins have the added benefits of boosting boiler efficiency, reducing operational costs, and removing existing scale deposits to protect against corrosion. They are also a plant-based and biodegradable option that can help facilities make meaningful change towards more sustainable operations.

An added bonus of purified tannins is that they are easy to integrate into your systems. Implementation is straightforward and does not typically require additional equipment. In most cases, treatment can be introduced through a single feed point, making the transition simple for operating teams. If you’re looking for ways to improve boiler performance and reduce utility costs, this might be the option for you.

Great for hospitals, universities, food processors, breweries, distilleries, dairies, manufacturing plants and many more.

Measurable Impact

• Energy cost reduction: 1-5%

• Water usage reduction: 10-20%

• Blowdown reduction: 50-80%

• Greenhouse gas reduction: 1-5%

• Test time reduction: 30%

ProMoss™ for Cooling Towers

For cooling towers and evaporative condensers, Pro Moss™ offers a plant-based approach to scale, corrosion, and biofilm control. Made from sustainably grown and harvested sphagnum moss, it helps improve water clarity, reduce scaling, and lower dependence on traditional chemical treatment programs.

How does it work?

Pro Moss acts much like a strainer or tea bag does; the moss sits in a contact chamber, where it interacts with system water as it flows through. This process helps reduce organic contamination that often leads to compromised water quality. Sphagnum moss also helps stabilize pH and alkalinity while binding certain metals that contribute to scaling and fouling through a completely natural process.

Benefits

• Natural treatment based on sustainably sourced sphagnum moss

• Reduced handling of traditional hazardous materials

• Useful second-life applications such as composting, fertilizer support, and oil and grease absorption

  
  

System Applications

• Cooling systems

• Process water applications

• Wastewater applications

• Cooling ponds

• Fountains

When used alongside an approved biocide, Pro Moss™ has been shown to support effective cooling tower programs and reduce Legionella risk. In some applications, pairing Pro Moss™ with hydrogen peroxide generation can further reduce reliance on the use of numerous chemicals. For facilities looking to strengthen cooling water performance with a more natural approach, this solution is worth exploring.

French Filming Amines for Steam Boilers, Cooling Towers, and Closed Loop Systems

French filming amines (FFAs) are advanced, eco-friendly polyamine-based formulations used as industrial water treatment additives. They are primarily used to prevent scaling, reduce biofouling, and inhibit corrosion in steam boilers, closed cooling loops, and geothermal systems by forming a microscopic, hydrophobic barrier on interior metal surfaces.

How They Work

• Electrostatic Adsorption: The cationic charge of the amines interacts with the negatively-charged metal surface, bonding chemically to isolate the metal from water and dissolved oxygen.

• Scale Prevention: They disrupt crystal growth, turning scale into non-adhesive flakes that wash away easily.

• Biofouling Control: The bacteriostatic properties prevent biofilms from adhering to waterside surfaces.

  
  

Benefits

• Eco-Friendly Formulation: Film-forming amines act as viable, highly biodegradable substitutes for traditional, toxic hydrazine and phosphate treatments.

• Energy Savings: By removing existing scale and maintaining a microscopic, even protective film, these chemicals optimize heat transfer and reduce blowdown requirements.

• Industry Use: They are highly prized in applications ranging from refineries, district heating networks, and power plants to sensitive food and beverage processing facilities where CFIA-compliant grades are required.

Get in touch with us to review your boiler or cooling water system and discuss which sustainable treatment option is the best fit for you.