Industrial cooling towers are some of the most water-intensive equipment on any site. For facilities running around the clock, cooling systems can account for a significant share of total water consumption, making them both essential infrastructure and a growing environmental responsibility. Smarter water treatment and better system design can meaningfully reduce that footprint, without compromising the performance your operation depends on.
At Franklin Hodge, we supply and service Carter Environmental cooling towers designed with exactly this in mind.
How Industrial Cooling Towers Impact Water Consumption
To reduce water consumption, it helps to understand where the losses actually occur. In an open circuit cooling tower, water is lost through three main routes:
- Evaporation: the primary cooling mechanism, where water vapour is released into the atmosphere
- Blowdown: deliberate discharge of concentrated water to control dissolved solids
- Drift: small water droplets carried out with the exhaust air
Evaporation losses are a function of the cooling process itself. Blowdown and drift, however, are directly influenced by how well the system is managed and maintained. For a facility operating 24/7, poor management of these two factors can translate into significant water waste each year, along with the chemical treatment costs that come with it.
Water Treatment in Reducing Environmental Impact
Water treatment for cooling towers is often viewed purely as a maintenance requirement. In practice, it’s one of the most effective tools available for reducing environmental impact and cutting operating costs.
The key metric is cycles of concentration (CoC), which measures how many times the dissolved minerals in the circulating water have concentrated relative to the makeup water supply. Running at a higher CoC means the system is using each litre of water more efficiently before it needs to be discharged.
Analysis published by the CIBSE Journal found that optimised water treatment combined with the use of non-potable makeup water can achieve a 24% potable water saving in UK commercial buildings. For a large industrial site operating year-round, that reduction has a direct impact on water bills, wastewater discharge costs, and progress against environmental targets.
Achieving higher cycles of concentration requires a properly managed treatment programme. Without one, scale, corrosion, and biological fouling accumulate faster, forcing more frequent blowdowns and reducing overall efficiency.
Carter Environmental’s Design Features for Water Efficiency
The effectiveness of any water treatment programme depends on the system it’s applied to. Carter Environmental cooling towers are built to support higher cycles of concentration and easier maintenance from the outset.
Stainless steel construction plays a central role here. Carter Environmental towers handle the elevated dissolved solids that come with running at higher CoC without accelerated corrosion, reducing the frequency of forced blowdown and extending intervals between maintenance interventions. All Carter Environmental towers are manufactured from fully recyclable materials, which matters at the point of use and at the end of service life.
Our towers are well-regarded in the industry for their market-leading access and maintenance features. When cooling tower servicing is straightforward and genuinely achievable without major downtime, it gets done on schedule. That consistency is what keeps treatment programmes effective and water consumption under control over the long term.
Reducing Chemical Use Through Better System Management
Reducing chemical use in cooling tower water treatment carries both environmental and cost benefits. Over-treatment is more common than most operators realise, often the result of fixed dosing schedules that don’t reflect actual system conditions.
Modern treatment approaches use automated monitoring to dose reactively based on real-time water quality data. This prevents unnecessary dosing during periods of lower load and ensures adequate protection when demand peaks. The result is a system that uses fewer chemicals overall while maintaining effective biological and chemical control.
Effective side-stream filtration also plays a role, removing suspended solids before they concentrate in the system, reducing the rate at which blowdown becomes necessary and extending the working life of fill media and internal components.
Franklin Hodge’s Commitment to Sustainable Cooling Solutions
Franklin Hodge holds BS/ISO 14001:2015 environmental management accreditation and aligns its operations with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. With over 50 years of responsible manufacturing behind us, sustainability is built into how we design, produce, and support our products.
Our sustainable cooling towers are designed to help industrial operations meet tightening water usage regulations, progress against corporate environmental targets, and reduce utility costs, all without sacrificing system reliability or performance. The Carter Environmental range reflects that commitment at every level, from material selection and recyclability through to the servicing and support we provide throughout the tower’s working life. To learn more about who we are and how we work, visit our About page.
Ready to Reduce Your Cooling Tower’s Environmental Impact?
Water-efficient industrial cooling and proper water treatment work together. Carter Environmental cooling towers from Franklin Hodge are built to support both, backed by decades of engineering expertise and a full servicing capability across the UK.
If you’re reviewing your current cooling system or planning a new installation, get in touch with our technical team to discuss your requirements and sustainability goals.
