With limited exception, many industrial facilities require the use of water as a coolant, either to transfer thermal energy or to support manufacturing processes. The extent of water consumption depends on the type of usage or processes involved.

The quality of the incoming, raw water often requires treatment or filtration — with higher levels of management and quality control to meet specific needs. Clearly, the needs for automotive manufacturing or data center cooling may differ from water quality requirements at a hospital, clean room facility, or hotel.

Industrial process water is used for a variety of manufacturing processes, including washing, cutting, coating, plating, rinsing, spraying, boilers, and cooling towers. There are often several steps involved in the treatment process, such as collecting, screening, straining, filtration, sedimentation and clarification, disinfection, storage, distribution, and evaporative release.

Read the full article here: A Primer on Industrial Water Treatment