Treatment Processes
Industrial and Process Water
It is estimated that over 20% of worldwide water use is industrial. Major industrial users include power plants, which use water for cooling or as a power source (i.e. hydroelectric plants), ore and oil refineries, which use water in chemical processes, and manufacturing plants, which use water as a solvent. The portion of industrial water usage that is consumed varies widely, but as a whole is lower than agricultural use.
Water is used in many industrial processes and machines, such as the steam turbine and heat exchangers, in addition to its use as a chemical solvent. Discharge of untreated water from industrial uses can cause pollution as it often contains solids and solutes. Industry requires pure water for many applications and necessarily utilizes a variety of purification techniques for both water supply and discharge.
Download a brochure on Wastewater Treatment Plants (PDF 438 Kb)