Top 5 Contaminants Lurking in Industrial Water (& How to Deal)
- Everfilt® Admin
- Jun 25
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 5
Let’s be real: water isn’t just “water” when it comes to industrial use. It’s either helping you hit peak efficiency… or silently wrecking your equipment from the inside out.
Whether you’re in manufacturing, energy, food processing, or any other heavy-duty industry, treating your water right is non-negotiable. So let’s talk about the Top 5 Industrial Water Contaminants that could be messing with your system, and how to kick them to the curb.
Why Should You Even Care About Industrial
Water Contaminants?
If you’re not monitoring what’s in your water, you’re basically giving scale, corrosion, and bacteria the green light to cause damage. Bad water can:
Reduce equipment lifespan
Tank your efficiency
Lead to regulatory drama you don’t want
So yeah, it’s a big deal!
1. Suspended Solids
Think: dirt, rust, sand, and metal particles. These solids float around in your water and don’t play nice with your pipes and systems.
Why They’re a Problem:
Clog filters & strainers
Cause abrasion in pumps and valves
Block heat exchangers like it’s their job
Fix It: Use filters, clarifiers, or even hydrocyclones to catch the gunk before it does any damage.
2. Heavy Metals
These aren’t just buzzwords from your high school chemistry class. We’re talking lead, cadmium, mercury, and chromium — toxic troublemakers found in water near mining sites, plating shops, or electronics plants.
What They Do:
Are straight-up poisonous (even in small amounts)
Eat away at pipes through corrosion
Trigger major environmental compliance issues
How to Handle It: Go with multi-media filtration, reverse osmosis, activated carbon filtration, ion exchange, or chemical precipitation, solutions that work.
3. Oil & Grease
If your facility handles lubricants, fuels, or even food fats, this one’s for you. Oil and grease can be slick, literally and figuratively.
The Risks:
Coat heat exchangers, messing with temperature control
Block up downstream equipment
Turn your wastewater treatment system into a disaster
The Move: Install activated carbon filtration, oil-water separators, DAF systems, or skimmers to lift those greasy layers off the top.
4. Bacteria, Algae & Biofilm
Microscopic, yes. Harmless? Not even close. When left unchecked, biological contaminants grow fast and form sticky, slimy layers known as biofilms.
Why They Suck:
Clog lines & filters
Cause microbiologically influenced corrosion (yep, that’s real)
Lead to unsafe or unsanitary conditions
Solution: Use UV disinfection, biocides, or just stay on top of pH and temperature levels to keep bugs from thriving.
5. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
TDS = all the tiny stuff dissolved in your water: calcium, sodium, magnesium, and more. While invisible, they pack a punch.
Side Effects Include:
Scaling up your boiler or cooling system
Ruining product quality in sensitive processes
Creating corrosion nightmares
Clean It Up: Go for multi-media filtration, reverse osmosis, deionization, or softeners to strip out those excess minerals.
*6. Organic Chemicals & VOCs (Bonus Contaminant)
These include industrial solvents, degreasers, dyes, pesticides, and even residual PFAS. While they’re often invisible and odorless, they can cause serious health and process issues.
Risks:
Toxicity & health concerns
Regulatory violations
Unwanted chemical reactions in sensitive processes
Solution: Activated carbon filtration is the gold standard here. It’s super effective at adsorbing organic molecules, especially when combined with pre-filtration to remove solids and oils.
TLDR – Get Ahead of the Contaminants
Water treatment might not be sexy, but it is essential. If you’re dealing with one (or more) of these water villains, ignoring the problem won’t make it go away; it’ll just cost you more later. Don’t guess what’s in your water. Get a legit water analysis, make a treatment plan, and protect your ops like a pro.
👉 Let’s talk — we’ll help you figure out what’s going on in your system and how to fix it without wasting time or money.
