When it comes to quality and a comprehensive approach, New Jersey water treatment is among the best in the country. Currently there are laws, in draft, similar to New York. In New York, Local law 77, Legionella laws require each business owner which owns a cooling tower to have a water management plan, In NJ the draft would require all water systems with the potential for risk to be incorporated into a Water Management safety plan.
They also would require a permit for secondary disinfection to potable water. NJ requires a pesticide applicators license through the NJDEP to treat swimming pools, aquatic, cooling towers, fountains and other water elements. This has implications for both residents and commercial building owners, modulating their expectations and laying down requirements, especially for how water is treated and disposed of.
Types Of Treatment Commercial Buildings May Utilize
Water treatment for NJ HVAC systems – Cooling and heating systems make up nearly ⅓ of all water in commercial buildings. These systems utilize tens of thousands of gallons of water per day, most is lost to evaporation, bleed or windage; while the rest is reused within these systems.
All of this water must be treated to reduce and avoid bacteria and biofilm, scale and corrosion and keep all of the heat transfer surfaces clean and operating efficiency. Without proper water treatment these systems would fail.
Potable water makes up nearly 50% of all water used. Water treatment for potable water can take many forms depending on the needs of the individual building or area and its specific risk factors.
In New Jersey, there is a significant focus on new and powerful technology to keep drinking water safe or treat wastewater for reuse. Membrane bioreactors can be used to not only generate a biological response to materials but simultaneously ultrafilter the water.
Activated sludge—which is much more helpful than it sounds!—can remove nitrogen and phosphorus from the water, and the state is making an effort to shift away from the constant use of chlorine in order to introduce fewer chemicals into the water before it returns to nature. Instead, New Jersey is increasing its use of UV disinfection, which utilizes ultraviolet light to kill bacteria in place of significant amounts of chlorine.
Other uses for water include: irrigation, fire systems and some high end tenants such as dental units, healthcare, and educational needs.
How Is Wastewater Treated In New Jersey?
Where does water go after you use it? In New Jersey, it is collected from your building and delivered to a wastewater treatment plant. Millions of gallons of water undergo this process each and every day in the state.
Once the water arrives at the treatment plant, it is screened to grab large items that should not be in the water, such as plastic, trash and cloth. Once the water has been cleared of these impurities, the water is allowed to settle so that sediment such as sand can be collected and removed.
Biological treatment is the next step, in which bacteria breaks down organic materials; new bacteria will grow during this process, which keeps the cycle going. At this point, any remaining unwanted materials will be removed using chlorine or, more recently, ultraviolet light.
The water that has been disinfected is then returned to the environment, often in rivers and lakes—which is why the state is veering away from using chlorine and instead relying more than ever on UV light.
Any high-quality solids that were captured back at the wastewater treatment plant are treated a little more to kill any potential pathogens, and then much of this waste is actually reused as crop fertilizer. New Jersey places a heavy focus on how water treatment impacts the environment and tries to keep those impacts positive whenever possible.
Things That Should Never Go Down Your Drain
If you are concerned about how you treat your water, one of the most important things you can do as a resident or building owner in New Jersey is to keep certain chemicals and items out of your wastewater. You may be aware that items such as “flushable” wipes still should not be placed down the drain despite their name, but did you know that you should not get rid of fats and oils via the waterway?
Whether you are a home cook or a restaurant, draining oil or grease down the sink or toilet can cause significant problems by creating hardened fat in the water lines. Medications are another common item that are often flushed down drains, but it is important to note that the water treatment processes that occur at the wastewater plant are not always equipped to neutralize the medicine that is introduced into the water system. This means that those chemicals could make it all the way into a lake or river, leaving a mark on the environment.
Work With The Professional Water Treatment Experts To Achieve Ideal Water In Your Building
Whether you are a residential water consumer seeking to improve the way that you handle your household’s water or you are a commercial building seeking to remain compliant with New Jersey’s stringent water treatment and disposal regulations to avoid fines and protect the environment, a professional water treatment expert can get you started on the right foot.
The experts at Tower Water understand that water treatment should be customized for each building based on its age, use and a variety of other factors. Reach out to schedule an appointment to discuss the best ways to manage your water system responsibly and in alignment with the state of New Jersey’s water treatment guidelines and recommendations. We would be happy to help you understand your options.
