Water is the most important natural resource for human life. It’s what we drink, it’s how our food grows, and it even provides us with power. However, water infrastructure has traditionally been a problem – clunky systems that are costly to maintain and operate.
Thankfully, there are now new solutions on the market that provide high-quality water at a fraction of the cost of traditional systems. Here are some ways you can find the top quality and cost-effective water infrastructure solutions for your business.
1. Investigate New Water Piping Technologies
One of the most common forms of water infrastructure is piping that carries clean, potable drinking water into homes and businesses throughout a country or municipality. These old pipes usually consist of just metal, which is susceptible to rust, leaks, and corrosion over time. Using these old pipes contributes to high water loss – in fact, one estimate found that pipes can leak up to 20% of the water they carry.
Luckily, there are new piping technologies available on the market today, and implementing these is one of the ways how a civil engineering firm specializing in water resources can help to overcome traditional piping problems. One example is PEX tubing, a piping system made out of cross-linked polyethylene that minimizes leakage while also being more flexible than metal pipes. Another example is EPB’s Smart Pipe system, which uses an intelligent network of sensors to monitor exactly how much water your business needs – this allows you to get rid of wasteful meters while still getting an accurate reading, so you aren’t paying for more water than you actually use.
2. Investigate New Water Treatment Technologies
Just as there are new piping technologies to provide a cost-effective solution for water infrastructure, there are also new treatment technologies too. Desalination is perhaps the most well-known example; it uses reverse osmosis – pushing water through a membrane with extremely small holes – to filter out minerals and salts from seawater or brackish ocean water, turning it into potable water for people and businesses. However, desalination can be very costly compared to other options based on energy consumption and required maintenance; additionally, it may not be an option in areas that do not have access to large bodies of saltwater.
Another alternative is zonation, which effectively solves the problems of mixing incompatible chemicals. Zonation uses electrolysis to separate water based on its specific components, making it possible to mix different types of chemical bases without creating an unsafe product.
3. Talk With Industry’s Leaders In Water Infrastructure Solutions For Advice
In addition to exploring the range of water solutions available through your local utility companies or installation companies, talk with the industry for advice on how to find the best water infrastructure for your business. Hear what they think of using Fluid Services. There are a variety of industry experts you can talk with, including:
- General contractors
- Plumbers
- Engineers
- Water treatment professionals
- Business owners in related industries
By asking experts from different companies at different stages of the process how they handle their own water infrastructure needs, you might be able to optimize their techniques and strategies for your business as well.
4. Investigate New Water Management Technologies
A subset of water infrastructure includes systems that manage wastewater after it leaves your business; these include sewer management systems as well as stormwater management technologies. Traditional sewer systems are usually clunky and costly to maintain; they’re also limited in capacity for future growth by size restrictions. If you want to find an alternative that’s more flexible and provides sustainable long-term costs, consider investing in a modular wastewater treatment system. These new systems are designed to be easily transported, installed, and then shut down when there’s no longer a need for treatment; they’re also capable of re-use of the water.
Stormwater management is another way to protect your business’s long-term ROI on water infrastructure. One example of how you can do this is by investing in permeable pavement instead of traditional asphalt or concrete sidewalks; this allows rainwater to filter into the ground instead of pooling on top of hard surfaces like roads and parking lots, which means it doesn’t create issues with runoff or flooding.
5. Investigate New Water Innovation Technologies
If you’re not confident that you’ll find water infrastructure solutions in your area, don’t worry – there are actually companies with ideas for all kinds of sustainable and cost-effective ways to help manage and reduce the use of water! If an independent company isn’t your speed, consider partnering with a larger company like GE; they offer all kinds of innovative technology for water management and treatment that can meet any need imaginable.
Some examples include waterless urinals that eliminate urea waste while cutting down on odors and noise UV disinfection systems that work just as well as chlorine for between $1,000 and $7,000 less per installation UV-activated flocculants that work better than traditional, energy-intensive options.
6. Investigate New Water Filtration Technologies
Water filtration is also a vital part of your business’s infrastructure – after all, you can’t have clean drinking water that isn’t filtered! There are now new technologies that make filtration possible at much lower prices than traditional methods while being just as effective.
One example is carbon filters, which are used in refrigerators and air conditioners throughout millions of homes and businesses around the world – they work by absorbing organic impurities while leaving essential minerals intact for overall improved health. Another example is Ultraviolet (UV) filtration, which uses UV lamps to eliminate microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and protozoa out of drinking water – this method is very effective but does not require the use of any chemicals or filters.
If you’re looking for new water infrastructure solutions, there are plenty of options that can help your business grow. Investigate the various types of water treatment systems available today and find out more about how to choose what best fits your needs.
