WATER QUALITY

Your crews’ ability to effectively clean your facility depends on the water quality at the site and the sources of its’ origin.

Water hardness, alkalinity and total dissolved solids (TDS) all affect your crews’ ability to clean an area. Knowledge of your water quality and source and using the best solution and cleaners to complement that water can optimize your maintenance program.

Water Source

As precipitation lands it dissolves and picks up any number of particles which can alter its’ quality. The water which eventually becomes part of our lakes, streams and reservoirs now carry these dissolved substances as part of their content. Seasonal changes can also affect water quality. Maintenance managers should be familiar with their water sources and water quality.

Hard Water

Hard water contains water-soluble minerals that can compromise the cleaning process.

Calcium and magnesium cause water hardness, and although they are water-soluble, they tend to combine with soaps and other detergents, causing the detergents to precipitate out of solution. Water hardness impedes your cleaning power and forces you to increase detergent use and costs.

A water softener can remove the calcium and magnesium, replacing them with sodium, which is more soluble.

pH, Alkalinity

Other chemical properties of concern in your source water are the acidity levels. Source water low in pH can neutralize the cleaning effectiveness of some of your alkaline detergents. Custodians may have to use detergents at stronger dilutions.

TDS and Spotting

TDS, or total dissolved solids, interferes with a detergents’ operation. It is similar to "traffic" in a room or on a freeway. The most common problem with TDS is spotting. Any solids that are in the last water to touch the surface of whatever is being cleaned will still be there when the water evaporates. These solids leave spots. The higher the TDS, the more spotting occurs. Spot-free water can be attained by the installation of distillation and de-ionization systems at your facility.

In conclusion, understand your water system. Obtain water analysis reports if your operation is on a municipal source. Run your own tests if you have water from a private well.