In the ever-evolving landscape of pharmaceutical research, precision, accuracy, and reliability are crucial. Laboratories working within this industry demand the purest form of water to ensure the quality and integrity of their experiments and analyses. Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems have emerged as a cornerstone technology in providing the necessary deionized water, with a range of applications that significantly contribute to advancing pharmaceutical science.

Deionized water plays a critical role in many different lab processes. It is essential for ensuring the consistency and accuracy of experiments, particularly in pharmaceutical research. According to the Illinois Department of Physics, typical water that comes from a well or municipal water supply contains ions that are naturally found in the soil. The removal of ions and minerals from water through deionization eliminates potential contaminants that could interfere with reactions and measurements. Deionized water serves as a blank canvas for researchers, allowing them to manipulate variables with confidence, knowing that their results are not affected by the minerals and ions in the water.

Reverse Osmosis systems are at the forefront of water treatment technology, offering an effective means of producing high-quality water, free of unwanted contaminants and impurities. RO systems work by using a semipermeable membrane that separates ions, particles, and impurities from the water, leaving behind only pure water molecules. This process is highly efficient and capable of removing up to 99% of dissolved substances. Pharmaceutical labs benefit from RO systems not only in achieving water purity but also in reducing the need for constant manual monitoring and purification efforts.

RO systems provide a reliable supply of consistent quality water, enabling researchers to focus their efforts on the core aspects of their work rather than water quality management. This not only enhances productivity, but also ensures that the research outcomes are accurate and reproducible, which is important for scientific advancement.

Water For Injection (WFI) is a critical component in pharmaceutical production, required to meet strict purity standards set by regulatory authorities. Membrane-based RO systems have revolutionized WFI production by offering an efficient and reliable method to generate water that meets or exceeds these standards. These systems use advanced filtration membranes that not only remove contaminants, but also minimize the risk of bacterial and endotoxin contamination.

WFI produced through membrane-based RO systems provides a safer and more consistent supply of water, which is crucial for the formulation of injectable drugs and other sterile pharmaceutical products. This technology ensures that the water used in such products does not introduce any potential risks to patient health.

In the search of pharmaceutical breakthroughs, labs need partners that understand the unique challenges they face. Complete Water Solutions (CWS) is a leading provider of water treatment solutions tailored to the needs of pharmaceutical research. With a strong understanding of the industry’s requirements, CWS offers a range of RO systems that cater to many water purification needs.

• Tailored Solutions: CWS understands that each laboratory has unique requirements. Their team of experts collaborates closely with labs to design and implement RO systems that seamlessly integrate into existing workflows, guaranteeing optimal performance.
• Cutting Edge Technology: With a commitment to staying at the forefront of water purification technology, CWS ensures that their clients have access to the latest advancements. This equips pharmaceutical labs with the most efficient and effective RO systems available.
• Comprehensive Support: From installation to ongoing maintenance, CWS offers comprehensive support, ensuring that your RO systems operate at peak performance throughout their lifespan. This dedication to customer satisfaction minimizes downtime and maximizes the value of your investment.

CWS is not just a provider of equipment, but a partner in advancing scientific progress. They offer comprehensive resources, including expert guidance, training, and technical support to ensure labs can leverage the full potential of their RO systems. Whether it is deionized water for experiments, WFI production, or other specialized water purification needs, Complete Water Solutions is equipped to address these demands with precision and expertise.

Access to clean and purified water is a critical factor for success in a variety of industries, including everything from pharmaceuticals to electronics manufacturing.

 Although clean water is something everyone needs, it cannot be achieved without proper purification steps. Deionization, often abbreviated as DI, is a commonly used purification process that eliminates dissolved solids and ionized minerals from water supplies.

Although deionization is crucial to ensuring your water is safe, it is just as important to take care of your DI system to make sure it is effectively purifying your system. To properly care for your DI system, you should be regularly resting your deionization resin by taking samples and sending them away for analysis. This blog will dive into the process of how to take your own DI resin samples as well as what insights that test will give you so you can stay ahead of the game to protect your business.

Deionization is a convenient and cost-effective water purification process that uses ion exchange processes to remove charged particles from your water. Essentially, it works by replacing positively and negatively charged ions with hydrogen and hydroxyl ions, which changes the chemical composition of the particles in the water, resulting in formation of purified water. It is critical that deionization is occurring in your water softening system to ensure that there are no dangerous contaminants present that may compromise the quality and safety of your business’s products and processes

One of the key elements in the process of deionization is deionization resin. The resin is made up of small plastic beads that are either positively or negatively charged. The DI process uses these oppositely charged resins to test for contaminanats. The positively charged resin attracts cations including calcium, magnesium, and sodium, which are contaminants you do NOT want in your water, and it releases an equivalent amount of hydrogen ions into the water. Similarly, the negatively charged resin absorbs unwanted anions including chlorides, sulfates, and nitrates then replaces them with hydroxide ions. These hydrogen and hydroxide ions combine with one another to produce truly purified water (free of contaminants).

If ensuring that deionizing is happening in your water softener is something that you’re worried about,  you can test the effectiveness of your water softener by following the steps on how to take a DI Resin Sample below:

• Protect Yourself: Before you take any resin samples on your own, you must ensure that you’re wearing the appropriate protective equipment to prevent yourself from touching unwanted contaminants. At a minimum, always wear safety goggles and gloves. 

• Prepare your equipment: You’ll need a sample container to hold the resin and a piece of pipe that is about half the depth of your tank. Depending on the size and shape of your tank, you may also need a screwdriver to remove the top and access the resin.
• Take the Core Sample & Extract the Resin: First, you will extract a core sample from the resin using the piece of pipe. Put the pipe into the resin as far down as it can go. Put your hand on top of the end of the pipe to capture the resin and some liquid inside of it. Make sure that you are going deep enough into the tank so that you go beyond just the top of the resin. Dust and dirt can pile up on the top of the resin, which will dilute the reading and provide an inaccurate report. Additionally, if the tank is large, you should consider using a ball valve at the top of the pipe to make your extraction easier. Once you have extracted the resin, you will move it to a separate jar. To get the most accurate reading on the test, you will want to fill the jar up as much as possible with the resin. This can occasionally take drawing a few core samples to complete.
• Lab Analysis: You will then send the collected sample to a lab for analysis. Within a short period of time, you’ll have your results back with the details on what types of contaminants you might have. Depending on those results there are a number of cleaning solutions to repurify your water. While we suggest that you complete this analysis every couple of years, depending on the industry your business is in, you may want to complete it a bit more frequently.

At Complete Water Solutions, we highly suggest completing a DI resin test every few years, but regularly scheduled testing offers several benefits. First, it will provide you with insight on any maintenance your water softening system will need. If only trace levels of contaminants are found in your test, then you can get ahead of the game and take preventative actions against those contaminants. It also detects the contaminants that affect your business operations, which allows you to stop production and make sure you’re creating safe products for your customers. Further, this test reveals the water holding capacity of your current system as contaminated resin can reduce the amount that it can hold. If your system has been effected by contaminant build-up, then resolving it can increase your efficiency of production.

If, after completing this test you realize that there is contamination or decreased system performance, there are a couple of potential solutions. If the resin is heavily contaminated, you can fully replace it to help restore the system to nearly its prime condition. If there is just a bit of contamination and depending on the severity of the contaminate, you can implement chloride or salt reduction to rebalance the water. 

In these cases, you should reach out to Complete Water Solutions. Our team of water treatment experts can help you decide which course of action is necessary to restore your system. From integrating one of these more ‘quick fixes’ to installing an entirely new system, Complete Water Solutions is here to help. Contact us today to discuss any questions you might have or to schedule an appointment with a professional. Your water quality matters to us, and we’re here to help you achieve the best results.

Reverse Osmosis, also known as RO, plays a vital role in a variety of industrial workplaces. The process helps remove impurities or contaminants from water, making it extremely valuable for industrial processes. Poor water treatment can set your business back by thousands of dollars, cause you to lose valuable work time, increase energy bills, or cause your system to completely fail.

By implementing an RO system in the industrial setting, you can find yourself with major cost savings, enhanced productivity, and of course cleaner water with removed contaminants.

The Reverse Osmosis purification process makes sure that the water being used is free of harmful substances. By using a membrane that is semi-permeable, water is purified of contaminants.

This helps to ensure your product quality and also get rid of harmful substances that could potentially damage the equipment you use. Not only will you save money by not damaging equipment, but purifying water on-site can help reduce pre-packaged water or water treatment services from outside sources. On top of that, your water can be reused in the same facility which minimizes your cost of water with less consumption and may lower operating costs. With purified water from a high-quality RO system, getting enhanced productivity is possible with the limited likelihood of downtime from equipment damage that can be caused by impurities in the water.

The benefits of Reverse Osmosis in Industrial work far outweigh the risk you take without it. Whether it’s Pharmaceuticals, Food and Beverage, Electronics, or Power Generation, Reverse Osmosis systems provide a solution to the water needed within the industry. In the Pharmaceutical industry RO systems are crucial for producing purified water for cleaning equipment, drug formulation, and keeping the work within regulatory standards. The integrity of Pharmaceutical products are maintained by purified water coming from Reverse Osmosis. 

In the Food and Beverage industries, water can seem like an obvious necessity. But having an RO system to remove pesticides, heavy metals, and other impurities helps guarantee the quality and safety of the products being served.  When it comes to Electronics Manufacturing, reverse osmosis produces ultra-pure water which is used in the manufacturing of microchips, semiconductors and other electronic components. With the items being so delicate, RO helps eliminate the contaminants that could potentially damage them. 

It goes without saying how important Power Plants are to the community, and they’re boiler feedwater, cooling towers, and other processes rely on Reverse Osmosis for treatment. Removing contaminants can prevent corrosion and other issues in Power Plant equipment, which helps improve the overall efficiency and gives a longer lifespan to extremely expensive machinery and equipment.

In industrial work, water is an indispensable resource and the level of quality is important for a variety of reasons. It’s significant role in industrial work will not only help with potential damages to equipment, but also help with deadlines to keep productivity at its highest potential. Complete Water Solutions provides industrial water solutions that include pump maintenance, media filtration, deionization and electro-deionization filtration systems, process filtration, reverse osmosis, and cooling tower cleaning. Regardless of if it’s a simple tune-up for your pipes and a brand new water system, Complete Water Solutions has the technicians that will meet your industrial needs! 

Reverse Osmosis technology plays a role in the industrial sector of work by providing high-quality water for various applications. It’s an invaluable tool in a number of industries, more than what we’ve named today. Industrial organizations can improve and eliminate potential issues by using the purified water of a Reverse Osmosis system. For more information on Industrial RO, call the team at Complete Water Solutions today and let the professionals help you with your reverse osmosis applications and uses to help reduce costs and protect your investments!

Reverse Osmosis (RO) is the process of purifying water through the movement of water through a semipermeable membrane when direct pressure is applied to one side of the membrane. Reverse Osmosis is one of the most effective technologies for removing unwanted contaminants and impurities from water by keeping out bigger molecules such as ionized dissolved salts.

Reverse Osmosis is used to reverse the natural process of osmosis. Osmosis is the natural tendency of water with dissolved salts to pass through a membrane from a lower salt concentration to find a higher salt concentration. Plants use this process to absorb water and its nutrients while humans and other animals use it to absorb water from blood. 

Reverse Osmosis systems continuously operate to instead reverse this process. Reverse Osmosis systems use continuous pressure, usually from some sort of pump, to force the feedwater with impurities and ionized salts through a highly-sophisticated membrane that removes the impurities, ending with highly purified water. The impure concentrate left behind is collected above the membrane and is then passed from the system to drain or onto other processes. RO systems also use cross-filtration. This is where the feedwater crosses the filter with two outlets: the purified water flows one way while the contaminated water goes another way. Cross-filtration allows water to sweep away the contaminants while also using enough water pressure to keep the membrane clean. Industrial applications of Reverse Osmosis generally end with 75% of the feedwater being purified, while in applicants where water conservation is important 85% can be purified.

Industrial Reverse Osmosis systems do this on a much larger scale. There are often three to five stages taking place in the entire process of Reverse Osmosis. A three-stage system consists of a sediment filter, a carbon filter and a semipermeable membrane. A four-stage system adds another membrane to filter out contaminants that the first membrane might have missed. The five-stage system adds a final post-filtration step that passes the feedwater through a carbon filter to remove any lingering contaminants. Some five-stage Reverse Osmosis systems also have a remineralization stage that will return beneficial minerals lost during the original process.

Industrial Reverse Osmosis systems tend to work in five basic steps. The first step is prefiltration. This consists of sending the feedwater through two pre filters that are in all Reverse Osmosis systems. The first is a sediment filter that removes particles like dust, dirt, and rust. The second filter is made of activated carbon and removes substances like chlorine and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The second step is the actual  Reverse Osmosis. At this point in the process, the continuous pump sends the feedwater through the semipermeable membrane that will trap the smaller, harder to detect molecules of impurities. This step removes the vast majority of dissolved solids in the feedwater. Next comes the drainage step. This is when the impurities are collected and drained out of the feedwater. This step makes sure to keep the membrane clean and clear, allowing for more feedwater to be purified and keeping the RO system’s efficiency high. The final step consists of storing the purified water. The water is usually stored in a pressurized vessel large enough to contain the purified water until it is ready to be used. The water may also flow through a final carbon filter to catch any missed impurities.

If you have any questions about Industrial Reverse Osmosis systems don’t hesitate to contact your experts at Complete Water Solutions!

Complete Water Solutions is your premier solution to water filtration. We support many different industries and are ready to help with your water filtration today! 

Since water is used for the majority of manufacturing applications Reverse Osmosis systems are used in many industries. Count on Complete Water Solutions whether you are in the restaurant, medical, or laboratory industry. We also support electroplating and rinse baths and parts washing/powder coating. Complete Water Solutions supports each of these industries with commercial or industrial applications

Industrial Reverse Osmosis systems can be beneficial to each of these industries.

The restaurant, medical, and laboratory fields are all specifically regulated when it comes to water. A Reverse Osmosis system is the best way to achieve highly purified water that you don’t have to worry about. This includes clean food or drinking water and water that is consistently purified for diagnosis and treatments.

When it comes to parts washing and powder coating Complete Water Solutions understands how important it is to have reliable, pure water. An industrial Reverse Osmosis system is the perfect way to achieve this. We guarantee clean water when using our Reverse Osmosis systems.

Electroplating and rinse baths also have specific water requirements when it comes to deionized water. Here at Complete Water Solutions we stay up to date with the specifications and understand how to best support this. In most cases the best option is using a Reverse Osmosis system to properly deionize and purify the water.

Complete Water Systems provides Reverse Osmosis systems that are able to achieve these results. Contact us today to get started on a system that fits your specific budget and needs!

Reverse Osmosis (RO) is an integral piece of technology in the industrial sector for purifying water to meet specific quality requirements. It is particularly useful in applications where high-quality water is crucial, such as in the pharmaceutical, food, and beverage industries. However, like any other equipment, RO systems can be negatively affected by fouling, which can lead to reduced water flow rates, increased energy consumption, decreased water production rates, and poor water quality. 

What does this mean for you and your company? To put it simply, fouling is BAD! Therefore, it is essential to understand the causes of fouling and take steps to prevent and effectively clean fouling when it occurs. The experts at Complete Water Solutions can explain more about industrial RO membrane foulants and how to clean them.

What is Fouling and Why Should You Clean It?

Fouling is a process during which the continuous buildup of unwanted substances or particles reduces the function and efficiency of the operating system. This typically occurs on membrane systems, which are mechanical and therefore subject to high amounts of fouling on their surfaces. This fouling ultimately degrades the membranes, which if left for too long can be irreversible. If the fouling is left unaddressed and this happens, it can lead to costly equipment damage, increased downtime for maintenance, and ultimately shorten the lifespan of the entire system. No company wants to or should have to deal with these issues, and luckily, dangerous levels of fouling are preventable. With the help of experts, like those at Complete Water Solutions, fouling can be removed to help maintain your equipment so you can go about business as usual.

What Causes Fouling?

Fouling can be different for every different company based on a number of factors. It is important to know the cause of fouling on your equipment so you can get it properly cleaned and make adjustments to prevent fouling in the future. Wondering what might be causing your fouling?

1. Oxidation: Chlorine, chloramines, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, and other chemicals are oxidizers that have the ability to attack the structure of the membrane’s concentrate layer. This does differing amounts of damage to the different parts of your equipment. The odds of this happening are increased if metals such as iron and copper are used in the feed in the water because they increase the rate of oxidation. If this oxidation is extensive, then salt rejection will drop and at a certain point, the cost of running your equipment will skyrocket. 
2. Suspended Solids: Suspended solids in the feedwater to your machines deposit on the membrane surface. This blocks feed channels and can especially cause problems for a system’s lead membranes. Silt, clay, silica, iron, manganese, and aluminum are some of the suspended solids that may be causing this problem.
3. Scaling: Substances such as calcium, barium, strontium silica, and other salts can become super saturated at the surface of a membrane, reducing the amount of water that can pass through the feed channel and permeate through the membrane. 
4. Organic: Naturally occurring organics found in surface water can also cause fouling. Additional materials that may cause organic fouling can be coagulants (or flocking agents) and incompatible pretreatment chemicals. 
5. pH Extremes: Hydrolysis is a chemical change that decomposes the membrane and can be caused by extremes in pH balance. A membrane’s thin film composite layer will operate at a pH level of 2-11, but the membrane’s pH range is only from 5-8. If the level reaches outside this range, hydrolysis occurs which will cause your machine’s membrane to perform poorly. 
6. Biological: Biological material, like organic slimes and bacteria, can also grow on the surface of a membrane, reducing the feed channel and permeate flows. 
7. Temperature: When temperature limits are exceeded, thermal damage occurs for the membrane, leaving it generally useless. It is important to be aware of the maximum temperature limit for the machines you are using specifically. The maximum temperature limit for cellulose acetate membranes is 35 degrees Celsius, and for most thin film composites, the temperature maximum is 45 degrees Celsius. After the temperature exceeds this, the membrane is a total loss.

That’s a lot of information to take in, but staying informed on what might be causing the inefficiencies in your machines is the first step to making improvements. 

How To Clean Foulants?

Each type of fouling has a different cleaning process, and many times, foulants will pile on top of one another meaning a combined strategy is needed to help get your machines back to pristine condition. To figure out the best method of cleaning, a two-step process can be used to identify all of the foulants on your equipment. First, profiling involves using the sample ports for each vessel to check the water’s conductivity and pressure drop. They are then compared to one another and if one has a higher conductivity than the other, a probing of that vessel will take place. This process isolates the problem within the vessel without removing the elements and while the system is still online. From this data, you are able to determine whether the first or second stage is fouled. 

After that, it’s finally time to clean your machines and get them back in tip-top shape!

If your fouling has been determined to be biological or organic, the bacteria and organics can be removed by soaking the machine with a high pH substance and at a high temperature. This process can be done in as few as 2 hours of soaking, but for best results, it will take between 12 and 13 hours. After that has been removed, if there are inorganic salts, they are targeted next. Equipment will be soaked in a low-pH cleaner or Hydrochloric acid until the membrane is clean. Finally, if there is particulate fouling, it can be freed up and removed. This procedure is aggressive, so off-site cleaning is highly recommended. 

As you can see, there are a lot of technicalities that come along with identifying Industrial RO Membrane Foulants and their cleaning, which is why you should always choose an expert to help you restore your machines. Complete Water Solutions is the industry leader in removing fouling and will help guide you through every step of the complex process, from identifying the foulant to cleaning it up. Contact us today with any questions or to schedule a cleaning. 

Complete Water Solutions video topic today is how to pull a resin sample to send in for testing. We also discuss the reasons why you might want to test your resin. Whether you have a water softener, demineralizer (Deionization System) or process application you may want to test your resin to see how its performing.

Need Resin?

Complete Water Solutions carries many types of resin from, cation, anion, select ion resin, color removal resin, arsenic removal resin, radium removal resin, mixbed resin –

Contact us at – 

Toll Free US (01) 855-787-4200

info@complete-water.com

Buy Resins For Water Treatment Online | Complete Water Solutions 

Complete Water Solutions covers Industrial RO membrane housing end cap removal and replacement. This video covers Wave Cyber 8″ RO Housing End Cap and Maintenance Items.

Some of the topics include

Shimming The RO End Cap Adapter

Replacement Of The RO End Cap O-Ring

Reverse Osmosis Membrane End Cap Removal Tool

How To Remove Snap Ring On RO Housing

Removing and re-installed a Reverse Osmosis Membrane Housing End Cap can be difficult at times. Find out some of the tools we use to remove and re-install RO End Cap’s.

If your end cap seems to leak or move every time the RO Starts and Stops then you may need to shim your end adapter. In this video, we discuss how to shim your Reverse Osmosis End Cap Adapter.

If you need parts or service contact Complete Water Solutions –

Phone (855) 787-4200

Email  info@complete-water.com

Complete Water Solutions can help when you’re thinking about Industrial Reverse Osmosis (RO) system upgrades. Our water experts have experience and knowledge of every water system product, offering the best recommendations which are most suitable for your needs. If you’re wondering if you need an Industrial RO System upgrade, we can help you make the best determination. RO System Upgrades can be as simple as a single controller upgrade to producing more RO water or membrane upgrades to allow for better water flow. We could also help you determine if it’s necessary to get a complete RO system replacement. We make sure your new water purification system upgrades are absolutely needed and will save you money, energy, or water in the long run. 

Membrane Upgrades

One of the most simple ways of upgrading your system is to change out your filter membranes. Worn membranes can decrease water flow and reduce the effectiveness of your entire system. Complete Water offers convenient membrane cleaning for an easy solution.

When should you consider upgrading or cleaning your membranes?

1. Reverse Osmosis membranes should be cleaned when normalized flow decreases by 10% from the initial acceptance test conditions.
2. Reverse Osmosis membranes should be cleaned when the overall pressure drop increases by 15% over the initial acceptance test conditions.

If you are looking to increase the GPD of your system, higher flow membranes are also available. With the proper fittings, you can increase your output without costly full system rebuilds.

At Complete Water Solutions, our technicians have more than 400 hours working with reverse osmosis systems. They can identify contaminants causing membrane inefficiencies and work to treat them safely and effectively. We offer both on-site and off-site cleaning procedures for your convenience.

Controller Upgrades

Another simple way to upgrade your industrial RO system would be to upgrade controllers. Outdated control systems are commonplace in many RO systems. An aging controller is prone to errors and can malfunction at inconvenient times. There are several drop-in replacement systems on the market that make it easy to upgrade without costly downtime. 

Upgrading to a PLC system gives you even more flexibility and can greatly increase your productivity. They also make it simple to build a network to monitor and track your system. 

A PLC control system simplifies many functions of your system with clear visual displays and touch screen controls.

The experts at Complete Water Solutions can help upgrade your system in a short amount of time, including changing over the controller and programming. We can also provide the replacement parts you need, leaving you with time to focus on other things. You won’t be out of a system for long when CWS is helping.

Why upgrade your Industrial RO System?

If you are not sure if you should replace your water system or upgrade it, Complete Water Solutions technicians can inspect your system to determine its needs. We are familiar with systems of all makes and brands, making it easy to identify potential problem areas. When reviewing your RO system for potential upgrades, we have to look at a few things. 

• Water Quality – while the existing system may be meeting the needs of water quality upgrading your system may not meet those water quality requirements. So performing an incoming water analysis to determine if the system upgrade will still me the requirements.
• Flow Rate – this is one of the most common reasons for upgrading a system is to produce more flow or produce more water. A few things to consider when upgrading your system for flow. Are all water treatment equipment in the water treatment system able to handle the increased flow? Upgrading a RO System for example may need a larger softener or carbon filter in order to handle the increased water flow. Plumbing (water supply) and Pressure are other areas that can affect the flow and may need to be reviewed or upgraded to handle the new water demand.

• Utilities – Water, Air, Electrical Systems, and Steam are all part of the utility category. Utilities may change when upgrading a water treatment system. Reverse Osmosis upgrades may require upgrading the pump. This upgrade of the pump may require more FLA (Full Load Amps) which may result in larger gauge electrical wiring and a higher AMP breaker. If your pump is controlled by a motor starter with overload you may need to increase the overload portion of the motor starter.

There are just a few of the things you can look at when you’re considering an upgrade to your industrial RO system. In some cases, there may not need to be any upgrades made. You can trust Complete Water Solutions to be honest with you.

Industrial RO System Replacement

In some cases, RO system upgrades may not do the trick and a replacement may be more beneficial than upgrading. The experts at Complete Water Solutions can provide a systematic analysis of the best route to upgrade your industrial RO system. 

Contact us today to get started.

Resources:

Complete Water Solutions Library of Congress Awards RO Upgrade

Complete Water Solutions Controller Upgrade

Complete Water Solutions PLC Upgrade

You may have heard about radium in your water and how essential it is to remove that. Here at Complete Water, we know how to remove radium from water using your industrial water system. Read on to learn more about radium, why radium should be removed from water, and how to remove it. If you have more questions, please feel free to contact us at Complete Water Solutions.

What Is Radium 226?

Radium is a radioactive metal that has a silvery white look to it. It forms when uranium and thorium break down in the environment.  This decay occurs naturally in trace amounts in rocks, soils, and groundwater. This energy is part of the natural radiation to which all living creatures are exposed. One of the various forms of naturally occurring radium found in groundwater is Radium 226. As radium decays, it continually releases energy into the environment. This release of radiation that causes concern about the safety of radium. Each isotope of radium releases radiation at different rates. Radium-224 as an example, releases half of its radiation in about 3.5 days; whereas, radium-226, releases half of its radiation in about 1,600 years. This energy is part of the natural radiation to which all living creatures are exposed. One of the various forms of naturally occurring radium found in groundwater is Radium 226.

What are the risks of Radium 226?

Without proper filtration, Radium can enter the body through water used for drinking and cooking. You can also be exposed to radium through breathing and eating food.  In the body, radium acts much like calcium. When ingested, about 80% of the radium will exit the body.  A small amount (20%) of radium will enter the blood stream and be carried to all parts of the body especially your bones. Exposure to higher levels of radium over a long period of time can result in harmful effects some of which include, anemia, cataracts, fractured teeth, cancer (especially bone cancer), and death. Some of these effects may take years to develop and are mostly due to gamma radiation. Radium gives off gamma radiation, which can travel fairly long distances through air. Therefore, just being near radium at the high levels may be dangerous to your health. Some studies have shown that individuals who ingested high levels of radium were more likely to have bone cancer. As you can see, it’s essential to remove radium 226 from your water. The EPA has set a drinking water limit of 5 picocuries per liter (5 pCi/L) for radium-226. Complete Water Solutions has the experience, equipment and knowledge to help you obtain a safe drinking water supply. No matter how small or large your municipal supply is we can help. 

Now that you are aware of what radium is and why it’s harmful to humans, Complete Water Solution can help you make sure radium is removed from your water.

To help reduce your risk of Radium exposure, Complete Water Solutions has several options available:

• The most common treatment technique is an Ion Exchange System. This filtering technique uses resin materials to capture charged Radium Ions. This system is robust and long-lasting.
• Greensand Filters use a specialized filter media used to remove radium from the source and allow it to be filtered out further down the filtration process
• Reverse Osmosis is another way to remove harmful contaminants from water. This process involves pressurizing water through various filter media and membranes that trap the radioactive metal.

The above methods can remove up to 90 percent of the radium 226 present, but it’s important to work with professionals to ensure the quality of your water meets the needs of your facility.

You can check out the process in action in the video below. If you have more questions or want to schedule service, please contact us here or give us a call using the number below. We’d be honored to help you remove radium from water using your industrial water system.

The Process in action

In the above video, Complete Water Solutions was contracted to replace an aging water system used to remove Radium Ra226 from a public water supply. The existing system was due for an upgrade, this was done to help ensure the safety of the public. Complete Water Solutions selected a triplex softener to have the ability to service one softener, keeping one line and having one in standby thus increasing the ability to remain online. We also selected Aquamatic Valves for the operations versus the old Fleck 2900. While the fleck 2900 worked well in the past, the customer wanted an easier valve to replace when repairs are needed, which keeps the majority of the repairs in-house.

Resources:

Radium Removal From Public Water System

Greensand Filters