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Field Service Engineer | Yorkshire (M1 corridor) | Competitive Salary

Full-Time, Permanent

About AllWater

From pure to wastewater and reuse, AllWater helps businesses around the world achieve more with water. We design, supply and install advanced water treatment systems that improve water quality, drive operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact across sectors including manufacturing, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and aerospace.

Independent since 2011, we combine over 100 years of leadership experience with the ambition to make industrial water use more sustainable. From individual softeners to fully integrated turnkey systems, we bring smart engineering, practical expertise and lasting support to every project, helping our customers reduce consumption, meet demanding standards and take control of their water treatment with confidence.

What You'll Be Doing

Servicing and maintaining water treatment systems such as Reverse Osmosis, Deionisers, Filters, Water Softeners and Effluent treatment Plant at customer sites around the Yorkshire area (M1 Corridor and surrounding areas).
Managing direct relationships with customers and plant operatives.
Analysing and resolving problems whilst both at site and by way of remote support.
Completing installation and commissioning of plant (subject to qualification and skill set)
Completing Service Reports and other associated documentation (using MS Word)
Responding to customer needs in line with commercial and technical specifications of AllWater Technologies Ltd.
Assisting the company with service improvement initiatives; taking a proactive approach to increasing productivity & profitability.
Ensuring that a high level of customer care & service is maintained at all times
Ensuring that all company policies inc. Health & Safety are observed and abided with at all times
Enhancing your own skills and knowledge through proactive learning and self-development

About You

A multi-disciplined electro-mechanical engineer with relevant qualifications
Experience with the water treatment industry would be an advantage
Experience of having worked as a Service Engineer or in a field based technical support role would be an advantage
Passionate about providing a first-class service to our customers.
Strong communication skills both verbally and written, with the versatility to communicate at all levels in a clear and concise manner
A professional approach to your work and communication with colleagues and customers
A good level of IT competency, specifically MS Office
GCSE or equivalent – English and Maths
A full UK driving license is required and a willingness to travel

Why Join Us?

Competitive salary + Profit-Related Bonus Scheme
Company vehicle and fuel card supplied
Full-time, permanent role with long-term prospects
Workplace pension scheme
Healthcare plan
A chance to shape your career in a friendly, inclusive, and high-growth business

To learn more about the role or apply, please contact: HR@allwatertech.co.uk

Tailored Water Treatment Solutions for Your Sector

We’re here to help with all your water treatment needs. Whether you have questions about our services, want to discuss a project, or need support, our team is ready to assist you. Fill out the form for general enquiries, or you are welcome to email direct or give us a call.

AllWater House

Unit 2, 
Cheddar Business Park, 
Wedmore Road, 
Cheddar 
BS27 3EB

Opening hours

Mon-Fri: 08:30-17:30 (GMT)

Immediate assistance

+44 (0) 1934 751333
enquiries@allwatertech.co.uk

Field Service Engineer | South Central England (Basingstoke, Reading, Oxford corridor) | Competitive Salary

Full-Time, Permanent

About AllWater

What You'll Be Doing

Servicing and maintaining water treatment systems such as Reverse Osmosis, Deionisers, Filters, Water Softeners and Effluent treatment Plant at customer sites around the UK (and potentially overseas)
Managing direct relationships with customers and plant operatives.
Analysing and resolving problems whilst both at site and by way of remote support.
Completing installation and commissioning of plant (subject to qualification and skill set)
Completing Service Reports and other associated documentation (using MS Word)
Responding to customer needs in line with commercial and technical specifications of AllWater Technologies Ltd.
Assisting the company with service improvement initiatives; taking a proactive approach to increasing productivity & profitability.
Ensuring that a high level of customer care & service is maintained at all times
Ensuring that all company policies inc. Health & Safety are observed and abided with at all times
Enhancing your own skills and knowledge through proactive learning and self-development

About You

A multi-disciplined electro-mechanical engineer with relevant qualifications
Experience with the water treatment industry would be an advantage
Experience of having worked as a Service Engineer or in a field based technical support role would be an advantage
Passionate about providing a first-class service to our customers.
Strong communication skills both verbally and written, with the versatility to communicate at all levels in a clear and concise manner
A professional approach to your work and communication with colleagues and customers
A good level of IT competency, specifically MS Office
GCSE or equivalent – English and Maths
A full UK driving license is required and a willingness to travel

Why Join Us?

Competitive salary + Profit-Related Bonus Scheme
Company vehicle and fuel card supplied
Full-time, permanent role with long-term prospects
Workplace pension scheme
Healthcare plan
A chance to shape your career in a friendly, inclusive, and high-growth business

To learn more about the role or apply, please contact: HR@allwatertech.co.uk

Tailored Water Treatment Solutions for Your Sector

AllWater House

Unit 2, 
Cheddar Business Park, 
Wedmore Road, 
Cheddar 
BS27 3EB

Opening hours

Mon-Fri: 08:30-17:30 (GMT)

Immediate assistance

+44 (0) 1934 751333
enquiries@allwatertech.co.uk

Project Engineer

AllWater Technologies | Cheddar, UK | On site

Competitive Salary | Bonus Scheme

About AllWater

The Opportunity

We’re looking for an experienced Project Engineer to take water treatment projects from initial scope through design, manufacture, installation and commissioning.

You’ll combine hands-on engineering judgement with responsibility for programme, budget, quality and safety. Working closely with customers, suppliers and colleagues, you’ll translate process requirements into practical systems and coordinate the work needed to deliver them successfully.

You’ll join a team of experienced and graduate project engineers, design engineers, workshop engineers and project support colleagues. The role offers the opportunity to see your designs become working systems, solve varied engineering challenges and contribute to the development of others.

The position is primarily based at our Cheddar office, with travel to customer and supplier sites.

What You'll Do

Define the project

Establish scope, deliverables, performance requirements and acceptance criteria with customers, statutory requirements and internal teams.

Develop the engineering

Produce and coordinate designs, drawings, specifications and bills of materials, ensuring systems meet customer, operational and applicable regulatory requirements.

Plan delivery

Prepare project schedules, resource plans and work packs covering manufacture, installation and commissioning.

Control costs

Develop and monitor budgets, track expenditure and commitments, and identify potential overruns early.

Coordinate people and suppliers

Organise the contributions of engineers, workshop colleagues, contractors and suppliers, keeping responsibilities and deadlines clear.

Manage progress and risk

Resolve technical and delivery issues, maintain visibility of project risks and take timely action to protect safety, quality, cost and programme.

Control changes

Assess the technical, financial and scheduling impact of scope changes, securing agreement and maintaining clear records.

Communicate clearly

Keep customers, management and colleagues informed of progress, decisions and any support required.

Support installation and commissioning

Coordinate site activities, testing and resolution of outstanding issues so systems meet agreed requirements.

Complete the handover

Ensure project documentation, operating information and customer training requirements are addressed, supporting a smooth transition to the customer and service team.

Improve future delivery

Contribute to project reviews, share lessons learned and support the development of less experienced engineers.

What You'll Bring

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Chemical, Mechanical, Environmental or a related Engineering discipline
Experience of managing engineering projects within the water treatment domain.
Excellent computer skills and proficiency in various software such as Microsoft Word and Excel
Experience of engineering drawing packages such as AUTOCAD
Excellent spacial reasoning and ability to view data in two or three-dimensions
Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Critical and logical thinking skills and problem-solving skills
Ability to work calmly in emergency and high-pressure situations
Ability to lead and develop others
Familiarity with government regulation and safety measures
Full driving licence

Useful Additional Experience

Project management methodologies and planning tools.
Installation, commissioning and performance testing of water treatment systems.
Laboratory or pilot-scale studies used to assess treatment options and inform system design.

What We Offer

Competitive salary
Discretionary annual profit share
Pension scheme (Legal & General)
Simplyhealth Wellbeing Cashback scheme
Social Events

To apply, please send your CV to: HR@allwatertech.co.uk

Tailored Water Treatment Solutions for Your Sector

AllWater House

Unit 2, 
Cheddar Business Park, 
Wedmore Road, 
Cheddar 
BS27 3EB

Opening hours

Mon-Fri: 08:30-17:30 (GMT)

Immediate assistance

+44 (0) 1934 751333
enquiries@allwatertech.co.uk

Projects Director, Stuart Howe, steps up to become joint Managing Director

As part of a planned leadership transition, we are pleased to announce that Stuart Howe, our Projects Director, is stepping up to become Joint Managing Director alongside Derek Spriggs.

Over the past couple of years, we have been steadily strengthening the structure of the business and developing our senior management team. This appointment is the next step in that process, helping to ensure that AllWater remains strong, resilient and well positioned for long-term success.

As Projects Director, Stuart has played an important role in the business, bringing a deep understanding of our projects, our clients and our team. In this new role, he will build on that experience, sharing responsibility for leading the company into its next chapter.

Speaking about his appointment, Stuart said:

“I am delighted and truly honoured to announce my appointment as Joint Managing Director. I am grateful for the trust, confidence, and opportunity that have been placed in me. It’s a real privilege to take on this role and continue contributing to the growth and success of the business.

I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved at All Water Technologies and grateful to the team, our customers and partners who have been part of that journey.

As I step into this new position, I’m looking forward to working closely with the wider leadership team to build on our strong foundations, embrace new opportunities and continue delivering the high standards of service, expertise and innovation our customers have come to expect. Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way.”

Our approach is also about creating opportunities for others. By developing our leadership team and strengthening the support around them, we are giving more people across the business the opportunity to take on responsibility, develop their skills and progress their careers.

This is a planned and positive step for AllWater building on the foundations we have established and looking ahead with confidence.

Please join us in congratulating Stuart on his recent appointment!

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Why low-conductivity rinse water matters in beverage can production

In beverage can production, the final rinse is a small stage with a major influence on quality. By the time cans reach this point, oils, lubricants, aluminium fines and process residues should already have been removed by the earlier washer stages. The final rinse then has one main job: leave the can surface clean enough for drying, coating, decoration or filling.

This is where low-conductivity rinse water becomes important.

Conductivity measures the amount of dissolved ionic material in water. The higher the conductivity, the more dissolved salts and minerals are present. In a final rinse, those dissolved solids can remain on the can surface as the water evaporates. This can lead to spotting, staining, haze or inconsistent surface finish.

For high-speed beverage can lines, those small surface issues can quickly become large production problems. Low-conductivity water helps reduce the risk by limiting the mineral residue left behind after rinsing and drying.

Why the final rinse carries so much responsibility

A can washer usually has several stages, including pre-rinse, wash, chemical treatment, intermediate rinses and a final rinse. Earlier stages remove heavy contamination. Later stages remove the remaining chemistry and prepare the surface for the next process.

The final rinse is important because it is often the last water contact before the dry-off oven. If that water contains too many dissolved solids, the dryer may remove the water but leave the minerals behind.

That residue can affect:

Visual appearance
Surface brightness
Spot-free drying
Coating preparation
Ink or decoration consistency
Internal spray performance
Reject rates

This is why final rinse water is often treated to a higher standard than water used earlier in the washer.

What low conductivity means in practice

Low-conductivity water has a reduced level of dissolved ions. In can production, it is usually produced by reverse osmosis, deionisation or a combination of both.

RO removes a high proportion of dissolved salts and minerals using membrane separation. Deionisation, also known as demineralisation, can be used where a further reduction in conductivity is needed.

The exact conductivity target depends on the line, product specification and process requirements. The important point is consistency. A rinse water system must produce water within the required range throughout production, including peak demand and after maintenance.

AllWater’s Al Jomaih Cans & Ends Making Plants case study is a clear example. The project required high-purity water for process solution make-up and rinsing, with conductivity below 10 µS. AllWater supplied a fully automated twin-pass RO system designed to protect water quality and production uptime.

How poor rinse water creates defects

Poor rinse water quality does not always cause an obvious issue immediately. A can may leave the washer looking acceptable, but dissolved minerals, chemical carryover or fine residues can still affect later stages.

Common rinse-related issues include:

Water spots after drying
Staining or surface haze
Uneven appearance
Poor coating preparation
Increased rejects
Higher customer quality risk
More frequent troubleshooting

These problems can be frustrating because they may appear downstream from the washer. Production teams may investigate coating, dryer or decoration settings before tracing the issue back to rinse water conductivity.

That is why monitoring matters. Conductivity gives operators a simple, useful signal that rinse water quality is changing before the issue becomes visible at scale.

Why conductivity monitoring is useful on a can line

Conductivity monitoring helps production teams understand whether rinse water quality is within the expected range.

A rising conductivity reading may suggest:

RO membrane performance has changed
DI resin is becoming exhausted
Chemical carryover has increased
Rinse overflow is insufficient
Storage water has become contaminated
Feedwater quality has changed
A valve, pump or control issue is affecting the system

On a high-speed beverage can line, early warning is valuable. If final rinse water drifts out of range, a large number of cans can be affected quickly.

Conductivity data also helps with process control. It gives operators and maintenance teams a measurable value to review, rather than relying only on visual checks after defects appear.

RO and DI water: choosing the right level of treatment

Not every stage of a can washer needs low-conductivity water. Earlier stages may only need filtration, softening or controlled make-up water. The final rinse usually has the highest quality requirement because it directly affects the surface left after drying.

For many lines, RO water may be sufficient. Where very low conductivity is required, RO may be followed by DI polishing.

The decision should be based on:

Final rinse conductivity target
Incoming water quality
Washer design
Peak rinse demand
Product specification
Surface finish requirements
Coating or decoration sensitivity
Maintenance expectations
Water and wastewater costs

The aim is not to over-treat every water stream. It is to use the correct water quality at the point where it has the most impact.

Low-conductivity water and coating readiness

The surface left after washing must be ready for the next production stage. If final rinse water leaves mineral residue, chemical traces or dissolved salts, coatings and inks may not behave consistently.

This can affect adhesion, appearance or downstream quality checks. Even where the defect is small, the speed of beverage can production means it can create significant waste if it is not caught quickly.

Low-conductivity rinse water helps reduce this risk by giving the can a cleaner final water contact before drying. It supports repeatability, which is essential where production runs are fast and quality requirements are tight.

Water use, backflow and washer efficiency

Many can washers are designed to use water efficiently across multiple stages. Fresh RO or DI water may enter at the cleanest final rinse stage, then flow back through earlier stages where the cans are more contaminated.

This backflow approach helps make better use of high-quality water rather than sending it straight to drain after a single use.

However, it also means rinse design, conductivity control and water balance need to work together. If conductivity rises too far, water quality may no longer support the final rinse requirement. If too much fresh water is used, running costs and wastewater volumes increase.

The best system balances rinse quality, water use and production reliability.

AllWater experience in low-conductivity can production water

AllWater Technologies has direct experience supporting can manufacturing and beverage production sites with low-conductivity water systems.

At Al Jomaih Cans & Ends Making Plants, AllWater supplied a twin-pass RO system to deliver high-purity water for process solution make-up and rinsing below 10 µS conductivity.

AllWater also provided a complete turnkey water treatment system for Kingsley Beverages, where the production requirement was water below 10 µS/cm alongside wastewater treatment to meet local discharge consent limits.

These projects show why beverage can production often needs an integrated approach. The site may require RO, DI polishing, filtration, storage, monitoring, automation, wastewater treatment and service support working together.

Keeping rinse water stable over time

A low-conductivity rinse water system must remain stable after installation. RO membranes can foul. Filters can load. DI resin can exhaust. Conductivity probes need checking. Feedwater quality can change.

Planned service agreements help maintain performance through routine checks, consumable replacement, testing, optimisation and reporting.

Where a production issue needs investigation, technical support for water systems can help identify whether the cause sits with feedwater, RO performance, DI exhaustion, rinse design, storage contamination or wider washer operation.

Specifying rinse water treatment for beverage can lines

Before specifying a rinse water treatment system, manufacturers should confirm:

Required final rinse conductivity
Peak and average rinse demand
Incoming water quality
Whether RO alone is sufficient
Whether DI polishing is needed
Storage and distribution requirements
Conductivity monitoring points
Integration with washer controls
Wastewater and discharge implications
Service access and consumables planning

Low-conductivity rinse water matters because it controls one of the last variables before drying. In beverage can production, that can make the difference between a surface that simply looks washed and a surface that is ready for coating, decoration and customer approval.

Speak to AllWater about rinse water treatment for beverage can production.

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Low-conductivity rinse water is water with a reduced level of dissolved ionic material. It is often produced using reverse osmosis, deionisation or both.

It helps reduce mineral residue, spotting, staining and surface inconsistency after the final rinse and drying stage.

RO water may be enough for some lines. Others may need DI polishing to reach a lower conductivity target.

Conductivity shows how much dissolved ionic material is present. A rising reading can indicate that rinse water quality is drifting.

Yes. AllWater supplies RO, demineralisation, filtration, monitoring, wastewater treatment and service support for can manufacturing and beverage production sites.

Get in Touch with AllWater Technologies

AllWater House

Unit 2, 
Cheddar Business Park, 
Wedmore Road, 
Cheddar 
BS27 3EB

Opening hours

Mon-Fri: 08:30-17:30 (GMT)

Immediate assistance

+44 (0) 1934 751333
enquiries@allwatertech.co.uk

TSA Anodising Water Treatment

Water treatment considerations for TSA anodising lines

Tartaric sulphuric acid anodising, often shortened to TSA anodising, is used in aerospace surface treatment as an alternative to chromic acid anodising for aluminium components. It supports corrosion protection and paint pre-treatment, but it also places specific demands on water quality, rinse design and wastewater treatment.

For manufacturers adding, upgrading or relocating a TSA anodising line, water treatment should be considered at the earliest stage. It affects process solution make-up, anodising rinse water quality, wastewater compliance, automation, operator workload and long-term line stability.

This is not simply a case of adding a standard reverse osmosis system or a basic effluent plant. TSA chemistry needs to be understood as part of the full process line. The interaction between tartaric acid, sulphuric acid, aluminium and downstream rinse streams can affect how water is produced, used and treated.

AllWater Technologies has direct experience in this area. In the Aero Fabrications TSA anodising case study, AllWater designed and installed a comprehensive water treatment solution for a new TSA process line, including a reverse osmosis plant to meet Airbus Spec A water requirements and an advanced treatment plant for TSA line waste.

Start with the process, not the plant room

The most important question is not “what water treatment equipment is needed?” It is “what does each part of the TSA line need the water to do?”

A TSA anodising line may need treated water for:

Process solution make-up
Pre-treatment rinses
Post-anodising rinses
Final rinsing
Sealing or post-treatment stages
Equipment washdown
Wastewater treatment and pH correction
Possible rinse water recovery

Each stage can have a different water quality requirement. Some rinses may only need controlled incoming water. Other stages may require high-purity water with low conductivity and low dissolved solids.

This is why the water treatment design should be built around the line layout, process specification, component flow, rinse arrangement and discharge consent requirements.

Why TSA anodising water treatment needs careful control

TSA anodising is used because aerospace manufacturers need controlled surface treatments for aluminium parts. EN 4704 covers tartaric sulphuric acid anodising of aluminium and aluminium wrought alloys for corrosion protection and paint pre-treatment, which gives the process a clear aerospace quality context.

Water quality matters because it can affect consistency at several points in the line. Poorly controlled water can contribute to mineral deposits, unwanted carryover, inconsistent rinsing, increased conductivity, residue on components and additional load on effluent treatment.

In aerospace manufacturing, these issues can create wider concerns. The finished part may need to meet customer specifications, surface quality expectations, paint adhesion requirements and audit evidence. Water quality is not the only factor, but it is one of the variables that should be controlled and documented.

RO for process make-up and anodising rinse water

Reverse osmosis is often central to TSA anodising water treatment because it reduces dissolved salts and minerals from incoming water. This can help produce more consistent water for process make-up and rinsing.

A correctly specified reverse osmosis system may support:

Low-conductivity process water
More consistent anodising rinse water
Reduced mineral carryover
Better control of final rinse quality
Lower load on downstream polishing, where used
More predictable process chemistry

For aerospace applications, the required water quality should be set by the applicable process specification, customer requirement or equipment design. In the Aero Fabrications project, AllWater carried out tap water analysis and RO membrane projections to design an RO plant capable of producing water that met Airbus Spec A standards.

That step matters. RO design should not be based on assumed mains water quality. It should be based on real feedwater analysis, projected performance and the required output quality.

When demineralisation may be required

RO can remove a high proportion of dissolved solids, but some processes may need further polishing. This is where demineralisation or deionisation may be considered.

For TSA lines, demineralised or deionised water may be relevant where very low conductivity is required for final rinsing, sensitive rinse stages or process make-up.

The correct approach depends on the specification. Some lines may use RO alone. Others may need RO followed by mixed-bed deionisation or another polishing stage. The decision should be based on the required conductivity, flow rate, rinse design, quality risk and operating cost.

The aim is not to over-treat every water stream. It is to supply the right water quality at the right point in the line.

Rinse design is as important as water purity

Anodising rinse water quality depends on more than the water treatment plant. Rinse tank design, flow rate, drag-out, agitation, component geometry and cascade arrangement can all affect final results.

A high-purity water supply will not solve a poorly designed rinse sequence. Equally, a good rinse arrangement can be undermined by inconsistent incoming water.

For TSA anodising lines, the following should be reviewed early:

Number of rinse stages
Static or flowing rinse design
Counterflow or cascade rinsing
Component drag-out volume
Conductivity monitoring
Water usage rates
Potential for rinse water reuse
Compatibility with downstream wastewater treatment

Rinse water should be managed as part of the whole line, not as a separate utility. This is especially important where the site wants to control water consumption without compromising quality.

Wastewater from TSA lines can be more complex

TSA anodising does not only need high-quality water going into the line. It also produces wastewater that can be challenging to treat.

Wastewater may include acidity, aluminium, sulphates, tartaric acid, rinse water, spent chemistry and other contaminants depending on the full process sequence. The tartaric acid component can make treatment more complex because of the way it interacts with metals and other contaminants.

This is why a standard effluent plant may not be enough.

A TSA wastewater treatment strategy may need to consider:

pH correction
Aluminium removal
Sulphate load
Complexed contaminants
Sludge production
Flow balancing
Batch or continuous treatment
Automation
Discharge consent limits
Treatability testing before final design

In the Aero Fabrications project, AllWater conducted laboratory testing using TSA samples to optimise the waste treatment process. This allowed the system to be designed around the real chemistry of the line rather than relying on theoretical assumptions.

Why laboratory testing matters

Laboratory testing is one of the most important steps in TSA anodising water treatment design.

It helps confirm how the waste stream behaves, what treatment chemistry is needed, how quickly contaminants respond, how much sludge may be generated and whether the treated effluent can meet discharge requirements.

For a new TSA line, this is especially valuable because the waste chemistry may differ from existing chromic, sulphuric or general anodising processes.

Testing can help answer questions such as:

What pH range gives the best removal?
Does tartaric acid affect metal precipitation?
Is additional chemical treatment needed?
How much sludge will be produced?
Can the process be automated reliably?
Will the system meet local water authority limits?

This reduces risk before the system is built. It also gives the manufacturer stronger evidence for design decisions, commissioning and future operation.

Automation and monitoring reduce operator burden

TSA lines often need stable water quality and reliable wastewater control. Automation can help reduce manual adjustment, improve consistency and support compliance.

Useful monitoring and control points may include:

RO permeate conductivity
Feedwater pressure
RO reject and permeate flow
Tank levels
pH
Dosing status
Effluent flow
Alarm outputs
Final discharge checks

For aerospace manufacturers, automation is not only about convenience. It supports repeatability, traceability and faster response when conditions change.

A robust system should make it easier for operators to see whether water quality is within range, whether treatment chemistry is working and whether the plant is approaching an alarm condition.

Designing the system around aerospace production

A TSA anodising line is often part of a wider aerospace production environment. Water treatment needs to support that environment without becoming a bottleneck.

Important design considerations include:

Peak rinse water demand
Batch frequency
Component size and drag-out
Required treated water storage
RO production rate
Effluent flow pattern
Redundancy requirements
Space in the plant room
Chemical storage
Sludge handling
Operator access
Service access
Future expansion plans

For larger or production-critical lines, installation and commissioning should include careful system testing, operator training and documentation. The goal is not only to install equipment, but to prove that the system can support the TSA line under real operating conditions.

Service support after commissioning

Water treatment performance must be maintained after installation. RO membranes can foul. Filters can load. Dosing systems can drift. pH probes need checking. Pumps, valves and instruments need routine attention.

For TSA anodising lines, planned support may include:

RO performance checks
Conductivity monitoring
Filter replacement
Dosing system checks
pH probe calibration
Effluent treatment review
Sludge handling review
Consumables planning
System optimisation
Compliance record support

Planned service agreements can help keep the system stable and reduce the risk of unplanned disruption. Where process issues are harder to diagnose, technical support for water systems can help identify root causes and recommend corrective action.

AllWater experience with TSA anodising water treatment

AllWater Technologies works with aerospace, defence and surface treatment clients where water quality, wastewater compliance and process reliability are critical.

The Aero Fabrications project is directly relevant to TSA anodising. AllWater supplied a tailored water treatment system for a new Tartaric Sulphuric Anodising line, including an RO plant for Airbus Spec A water and an advanced wastewater treatment plant designed around TSA chemistry.

AllWater’s wider aerospace and defence water treatment and surface treatment water systems experience includes high-purity water, demineralisation, rinse water control, effluent treatment, installation, commissioning and ongoing service support.

For manufacturers planning a TSA line, this combination matters. The incoming water, rinse stages and wastewater plant need to work together. If they are specified separately, the system may meet one requirement while creating problems elsewhere.

Practical questions before specifying a TSA line water system

Before specifying TSA anodising water treatment, manufacturers should ask:

What water quality does the process specification require?
Is RO sufficient, or is demineralisation needed?
What quality is required for each rinse stage?
What is the peak rinse water demand?
What drag-out volume is expected?
Can any rinse water be reused safely?
What contaminants will be present in the wastewater?
Has TSA waste treatability been tested?
What discharge limits apply?
How much automation is required?
What monitoring records will be needed?
How will the system be serviced?

These questions help turn a broad water treatment requirement into a practical system specification.

Getting TSA water treatment right from the start

TSA anodising lines need water treatment that is designed around the process, not bolted on after the line has been specified.

The incoming water must be suitable for process make-up and rinsing. The rinse design must control carryover and conductivity. The wastewater plant must be able to deal with TSA chemistry. Monitoring, automation and service support must keep the system stable after commissioning.

For aerospace and defence manufacturers, the strongest approach is to assess the full line early, including feedwater quality, rinse requirements, wastewater characteristics and compliance obligations.

AllWater Technologies can help specify, install and support TSA anodising water treatment systems that meet site-specific requirements, from RO and demineralisation through to effluent treatment, automation and service support.

Speak to AllWater about TSA anodising water treatment requirements.

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TSA anodising water treatment covers the production, control and treatment of water used in tartaric sulphuric acid anodising lines. It can include RO, demineralisation, anodising rinse water control, wastewater treatment, monitoring and servicing.

High-purity water helps reduce dissolved solids, mineral carryover and residue on aerospace components. It may be required for process solution make-up, final rinsing or other critical rinse stages depending on the specification.

RO may be enough for some applications, but others may need additional demineralisation or deionisation. The answer depends on the required conductivity, process specification, customer requirement and rinse design.

TSA wastewater can be difficult because it may contain tartaric acid, sulphuric acid, aluminium and complexed contaminants. Treatability testing is important before designing the final wastewater treatment system.

Rinse water reuse may be possible, but it needs careful assessment. The decision depends on rinse quality, contamination level, conductivity targets, wastewater treatment design and the risk of returning contaminants to the line.

Early planning helps ensure the RO, rinse design, wastewater treatment, automation and service access are designed around the actual TSA process. This reduces the risk of quality issues, compliance problems and retrofit costs later.

Get in Touch with AllWater Technologies

AllWater House

Unit 2, 
Cheddar Business Park, 
Wedmore Road, 
Cheddar 
BS27 3EB

Opening hours

Mon-Fri: 08:30-17:30 (GMT)

Immediate assistance

+44 (0) 1934 751333
enquiries@allwatertech.co.uk

How water quality affects can washer performance

In can manufacturing, the washer is a critical part of the production line. It removes oils, lubricants, aluminium fines and process residues from the cans before they move on to treatment, drying, decoration, internal coating or filling.

When the washer performs well, cans leave the system with a clean, consistent surface that is ready for the next production stage. When it does not, the effects can quickly spread across the line. Water spots, staining, poor coating adhesion, blocked nozzles, chemical imbalance, excessive rejects and unplanned stoppages can all be linked to poor water quality.

This is why can washer water treatment should be treated as part of production control, not just a utility requirement.

A can washer depends on consistent water quality at several stages. Pre-rinse water, wash water, treatment stage water, intermediate rinses and final rinse water all perform different roles. If the water entering the system is inconsistent, too high in dissolved solids, too hard, contaminated with oils or poorly monitored, washer performance can become harder to control.

For can manufacturers, that can means more defects, more intervention and less confidence in the line.

Key points covered in this article

This article explains how water quality affects can washer performance and why the right treatment system can help improve consistency across the production line.

It covers:

Why washer performance starts with water quality
Where water-related problems appear on the line
How poor rinse quality causes spotting, staining and defects
Why scale and suspended solids affect spray coverage
The role of reverse osmosis and deionised water
Why conductivity is such a useful warning sign
How wastewater treatment links to washer performance
What to consider when specifying or upgrading a system

Why washer performance starts with water quality

A modern can washer does much more than remove visible dirt. It prepares the can surface for the next stage of production.

In two-piece aluminium can manufacturing, cans usually pass through several washing, rinsing and treatment stages. These stages remove bodymaker lubricants, oils, aluminium fines, residual chemistry and surface contamination. The washer also helps prepare the surface for decoration, internal spray coating and external finish.

If this stage is poorly controlled, the issue may not stay within the washer. It can affect coating performance, surface appearance, ink application, line speed, customer quality checks and final reject rates.

The challenge is that water-related problems are not always obvious straight away. A rinse stage may look as though it is performing correctly, while conductivity, hardness, pH or suspended solids are moving outside the required range. By the time spotting, staining or coating defects become visible, a large volume of cans may already have passed through the line.

That is why water treatment should be designed around the washer, the production rate and the final quality target.

Where water quality problems show up on the line

Poor water quality can affect can washer performance in several ways. Some problems appear inside the washer. Others only become visible after drying, decoration or coating.

Common signs include:

Water spots after drying
Staining or surface haze
Inconsistent can brightness
Blocked or partially restricted nozzles
Uneven spray coverage
Scale on heating surfaces or pipework
Increased chemical consumption
More frequent manual adjustments
Higher wastewater load
Coating or ink adhesion issues
Increased rejects
Unplanned cleaning or maintenance stops

These issues often have more than one cause. Dryer performance, washer chemistry, temperature, line speed and maintenance all matter. However, water quality is one of the key variables because it affects every stage of the washer.

A well-designed industrial water treatment system helps control that variable so production teams can focus on the wider process.

Water spots, staining and surface defects

Water spots are often caused by dissolved minerals or contamination left behind when water evaporates. If final rinse water contains too many dissolved solids, those solids can remain on the can surface after drying.

This can lead to visible spots, staining, haze or inconsistent appearance. In a high-speed can manufacturing environment, small defects can become costly very quickly.

The final rinse is especially important because it is often the last water contact before drying and downstream processing. If this rinse is not controlled properly, residues can remain on the surface even when the washer appears to be operating normally.

High-quality rinse water helps reduce this risk. By lowering dissolved solids and controlling conductivity, manufacturers can support a cleaner surface, more consistent drying and fewer visible water-related defects.

Scale, blocked nozzles and uneven spray coverage

Hard water can cause scale inside pipework, spray bars, nozzles, heat exchangers and washer components. As scale builds, it can restrict flow and affect spray pattern consistency.

In a can washer, spray coverage is critical. If nozzles become partially blocked or spray distribution becomes uneven, some cans may not receive enough washing or rinsing contact. This can create inconsistent cleaning, poor residue removal and greater variation between cans.

Scale can also reduce heat transfer, which may affect temperature control and energy efficiency. Over time, this can increase maintenance demands and make the washer harder to keep stable.

A correctly specified water softener can help reduce hardness before it causes scale in the washer or downstream treatment equipment. It may also help protect reverse osmosis membranes, depending on the overall system design.

Suspended solids, aluminium fines and washer contamination

Can washing involves the removal of oils, lubricants, aluminium fines and process residues. If solids are not controlled effectively, they can circulate through the system and increase the load on pumps, tanks, strainers and nozzles.

Suspended solids can also affect rinse quality. Fine particulate contamination may settle in low-flow areas, restrict spray equipment or interfere with downstream treatment stages.

This is where filtration becomes important. Industrial water filters can help remove particulate contamination, protect equipment and support more stable water quality across the washer.

The exact filtration approach depends on the process. A can washer may require pre-filtration, side-stream filtration, cartridge filtration, media filtration or protection upstream of reverse osmosis and deionisation systems.

The aim is not simply to remove visible solids. It is to protect spray performance, reduce avoidable maintenance and maintain consistent process conditions.

Chemical balance and process consistency

Can washer chemistry depends on the correct balance of water quality, chemical concentration, temperature, contact time and flow.

If incoming water quality changes, the chemistry can become harder to manage. High dissolved solids, variable conductivity, excessive hardness, incorrect pH or contamination can all increase chemical demand or reduce consistency.

This can lead to more frequent manual correction, higher chemical consumption and less predictable results. It may also increase the load on wastewater treatment, particularly where oils, surfactants, aluminium or fluoride need to be controlled before discharge.

Good water treatment does not replace process chemistry control. It supports it by providing more consistent make-up and rinse water, so the washer chemistry can perform as intended.

Final rinse quality: the stage that often decides the finish

The final rinse is one of the most important water quality stages in can washer performance.

Its role is to remove the last traces of process chemistry and dissolved contamination before drying. In many can manufacturing lines, this stage uses low-conductivity reverse osmosis water, deionised water or a combination of both.

As explained in this overview of the beverage can washer process, can washing typically involves multiple stages, including pre-rinse, pre-wash, wash, treatment stages and final rinsing. The final high-purity rinse helps achieve a cleaner surface before the can moves into drying and downstream operations.

AllWater’s Al Jomaih Cans & Ends Making Plants case study shows why this matters in practice. Al Jomaih required consistently high-purity rinse water for can manufacturing, with a target conductivity below 10 µS. AllWater designed and supplied a fully automated twin-pass reverse osmosis system to deliver reliable rinse water while protecting production uptime.

For manufacturers running high-speed lines, final rinse quality is not a finishing detail. It is one of the stages that helps determine whether cans leave the washer ready for the next process.

How water quality affects coating adhesion and surface preparation

Can washer water quality has a direct impact on surface preparation. If the surface is not cleaned and rinsed correctly, later production stages may not perform as intended.

Poor rinse quality can leave behind:

Mineral residues
Chemical carryover
Oils or surfactants
Fine particulate contamination
Dissolved salts
Surface haze
Staining or spotting

These residues can affect how coatings, inks or internal sprays interact with the can surface. This may lead to inconsistent appearance, coating defects, reduced adhesion or higher reject rates.

This principle is not limited to can manufacturing. Research into rinse water quality and coating corrosion resistance highlights how rinse water quality can affect coating performance where surface preparation is critical.

For can manufacturers, the practical point is straightforward. If the rinse is not controlled, the surface may not be ready for coating, even if it appears visually clean.

Why conductivity is such a useful warning sign

Conductivity is one of the most useful measurements in can washer water treatment. It indicates how easily water conducts electricity, which is influenced by the amount of dissolved ions present.

Higher conductivity generally means more dissolved ionic material in the water. Lower conductivity usually indicates lower dissolved solids and better rinse water quality.

In a can washer, conductivity monitoring can help operators identify changes before they become visible production issues. It is especially useful for final rinse control, reverse osmosis performance, deionised water quality and process troubleshooting.

A rise in conductivity may indicate:

RO membrane performance decline
DI resin exhaustion
Chemical carryover
Insufficient rinse overflow
Contaminated storage tanks
Poor make-up water quality
A dosing or control issue
A change in incoming water quality

For high-speed can manufacturing, this early warning matters. A conductivity issue left unchecked can affect a large number of cans in a short period of time.

In the Kingsley Beverages case study, the production water requirement was below 10 µS/cm. The project also included wastewater treatment to meet local discharge consent limits, showing how low-conductivity water production and effluent control often need to be considered together.

Reverse osmosis for consistent low-conductivity water

Reverse osmosis is commonly used in can manufacturing to reduce dissolved salts, minerals and other contaminants. It can produce consistent, low-conductivity water for final rinsing, process solution make-up and downstream polishing.

For can washers, RO may be used for:

Final rinse water
Process solution make-up
DI feedwater
Washer make-up water
Recovered water polishing
Low-conductivity production water

The right RO system depends on the washer demand, conductivity target, recovery requirement, feedwater quality, available space and uptime expectations.

In high-output can manufacturing, resilience is important. A water system that cannot meet peak demand, recover quickly after maintenance or respond to feedwater changes may create production risk. Depending on the site, this may mean considering duty and standby equipment, twin-pass RO, automated control, storage capacity and remote monitoring.

When deionised water is needed in can washing

Deionised water, or DI water, is used when very low dissolved ion levels are required. In can washer systems, it is most often associated with final rinse quality and spot-free drying.

A demineralised water system removes dissolved ions through ion exchange resin. It may be used after RO where the process requires further conductivity reduction. It can also be used for recirculation of water from stage 6, the final rinse to ensure high quality water for final rinsing and also to reduce the amount of water wasted to drain, dependent upon washer design.

DI water can help support:

Spot-free final rinsing
Lower mineral residue
Cleaner surface preparation
More consistent coating or decoration
Reduced risk of visible water marks
Better process control where low conductivity is required

Not every stage of the washer needs DI water. In many cases, it is more practical and cost-effective to use different water qualities at different stages. For example, earlier stages may need filtration and softening, while the final rinse may need RO or DI water.

This process-led approach avoids over-treating water where it adds no value, while protecting the stages that directly affect finish and rejects.

Wastewater: the other side of can washer performance

A can washer does not only need clean input water. It also produces wastewater that can be challenging to manage.

Can washer wastewater may contain oils, lubricants, surfactants, suspended solids, aluminium, fluoride, sulphates acids, alkalis and variable pH. This can make treatment more complex, especially where discharge limits are tight or water reuse is being considered.

Wastewater treatment should therefore be considered alongside the pure water system. Treating them as separate issues can lead to missed opportunities.

An integrated approach may help manufacturers:

Meet discharge consent limits
Reduce wastewater disposal risk
Manage fluoride, aluminium, sulphate, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and pH
Improve water recovery
Reduce reliance on mains water
Support sustainability targets
Protect production continuity

In the Kingsley Beverages project, AllWater provided a complete turnkey water treatment system for a new can manufacturing facility. The system was designed to produce water below 10 µS/cm for production and provide wastewater treatment to achieve local discharge consent limits, including low levels of fluoride.

This shows why can manufacturing water treatment often needs a whole-line view. The same production environment may require high-purity water generation, chemical dosing, wastewater treatment, monitoring, storage, containment and planned servicing.

Designing water treatment around the washer, not the other way around

Can manufacturing lines are high-speed, high-output environments. Water treatment systems need to support the washer without becoming a bottleneck.

Important design factors include:

Final rinse conductivity target
Peak washer demand
Average flow rate
Fast-fill requirements after maintenance
Incoming water quality
Feedwater temperature variation
Space for tanks and treatment equipment
Redundancy requirements
Automation and monitoring needs
Chemical dosing requirements
Wastewater volume and composition
Discharge consent limits
Water recovery targets
Operator access and maintenance requirements

A standard system may not be suitable if the washer needs continuous production, high recovery, consistent conductivity and reliable response to changing inlet conditions.

AllWater’s approach to water treatment installation and commissioning is built around site-specific requirements. The aim is not just to install equipment, but to make sure the system works properly within the production environment.

Monitoring and automation for high-speed production lines

Can washer performance depends on control. Manual checks are useful, but high-speed production often needs continuous monitoring and early warning.

Important parameters may include:

Conductivity
Flow rate
Pressure
Temperature
pH
Redox
Tank level
Ionic rejection
Pump performance
Chemical dosing status
Filter differential pressure

Automation can help protect membranes, manage alarms, control recovery and reduce operator intervention. It can also improve visibility, which is valuable when production teams need to identify root causes quickly.

In the Al Jomaih project, AllWater’s system included real-time monitoring across critical parameters such as conductivity, ionic rejection, flow rates, pressure, temperature, redox levels and pump performance. The system also included safeguards around chemical dosing to prevent incorrect operation.

For can manufacturers, this type of monitoring can help prevent small changes from becoming line-stopping problems.

Keeping the system stable through planned servicing

Even a well-designed can washer water treatment system needs ongoing support. Membranes can foul. Filters can load. DI resin can lose capacity. Dosing systems can drift. Sensors may need calibration. Feedwater conditions can change.

Planned service agreements help maintain performance, reduce unplanned downtime and keep water quality within the required range.

A service programme may include:

RO membrane performance checks
Conductivity checks
Resin condition review
Filter replacement
Chemical dosing checks
Instrument calibration
pH and redox checks
Pump and valve inspections
Wastewater treatment review
System optimisation
Documentation and reporting

For can manufacturers, servicing should be planned around production schedules. The aim is to protect uptime, minimise disruption and identify problems before they affect the washer.

Where a fault or performance issue occurs, technical support for water systems can help diagnose the root cause and recommend practical corrective action.

A practical checklist for can washer water treatment

Before specifying, upgrading or reviewing a can washer water treatment system, manufacturers should ask:

What conductivity is required for the final rinse?
Is RO water sufficient, or is DI polishing required?
How variable is the incoming water quality?
Is hardness causing scale in the washer or nozzles?
Are suspended solids affecting spray performance?
Are water spots or staining appearing after drying?
Is coating adhesion being affected by rinse quality?
Is chemical use higher than expected?
Does the system have enough capacity for peak demand?
Is there enough resilience during maintenance?
Can water recovery be improved?
Is wastewater treatment meeting discharge limits?
Are monitoring records available for troubleshooting?
Is servicing planned around the production schedule?

These questions help identify whether the issue is linked to feedwater quality, final rinse performance, wastewater load, dosing control, system capacity or maintenance.

AllWater experience in can manufacturing water treatment

AllWater Technologies designs, supplies, installs, commissions and supports industrial water treatment systems for demanding manufacturing environments.

The team has direct experience in can manufacturing water treatment, including high-purity rinse water systems, reverse osmosis, chemical dosing, automated monitoring, wastewater treatment and water recovery.

AllWater has supported major can manufacturing and beverage production projects, including the Al Jomaih Cans & Ends Making Plants case study and Kingsley Beverages. These projects involved low-conductivity water generation, production-critical uptime, wastewater treatment, fluoride control, high recovery and integrated system design.

The company’s wider expertise covers food and beverage water treatment, general industrial water treatment, reverse osmosis, demineralisation, water softening, filtration, wastewater treatment, polymer dosing and ongoing service support.

For can manufacturers, this matters because washer performance depends on more than equipment selection. It depends on correct specification, water chemistry knowledge, practical installation, automation, maintenance and long-term technical support.

Turning water quality into production control

Water quality has a direct impact on can washer performance. It affects surface finish, spot-free drying, coating preparation, chemical control, wastewater load, maintenance demand and production uptime.

For can manufacturers, the washer is too important to leave water quality to chance. A consistent, well-monitored treatment system helps turn water into a controlled part of the production process, rather than a variable that causes defects, downtime or unnecessary intervention.

The right solution may include filtration, water softening, reverse osmosis, deionisation, chemical dosing, wastewater treatment, monitoring and planned servicing. The exact configuration should be based on the washer design, incoming water quality, final rinse target, production rate and discharge requirements.

AllWater Technologies works with can manufacturers and wider industrial clients to design and support water treatment systems that meet site-specific requirements. From high-purity rinse water to wastewater treatment and ongoing servicing, AllWater helps manufacturers protect washer performance and maintain consistent production quality.

Speak to AllWater Technologies about can washer water treatment requirements.

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Can washer water treatment is the process of conditioning, filtering, purifying and controlling water used in can washing, rinsing, treatment and final rinse stages. It helps improve surface finish, reduce spotting, protect equipment and support consistent production.

Water quality affects how well oils, fines, process chemistry and residues are removed from the can surface. Poor water quality can cause scale, blocked nozzles, water spots, staining, inconsistent rinsing, poor coating preparation and higher reject rates.

The required final rinse quality depends on the can washer, product specification and process requirements. Many can manufacturing systems use low-conductivity RO or DI water for final rinsing to reduce dissolved solids and support spot-free dryin

Yes. Reverse osmosis is commonly used to reduce dissolved salts and minerals in can washer make-up water or final rinse water. It can also be used before deionisation to improve efficiency and support consistent low-conductivity water production.

Deionised water may be needed where very low dissolved solids are required, especially for final rinse stages where spot-free drying and surface cleanliness are critical. Not every washer stage needs DI water, so the system should be matched to the process.

Water spots are often linked to dissolved minerals or contamination left behind after water evaporates. Final rinse quality, drying performance, water temperature and chemical carryover can all contribute to spotting.

Water treatment helps produce consistent rinse water, reduce scale, control solids, support final rinse quality and protect washer performance. This can improve surface finish, reduce coating issues and lower the risk of rejects caused by water-related defects.

Can washer wastewater can contain oils, surfactants, aluminium, fluoride, suspended solids and variable pH. Wastewater treatment helps manufacturers meet discharge limits, reduce environmental risk and explore water recovery where appropriate.

Get in Touch with AllWater Technologies

AllWater House

Unit 2, 
Cheddar Business Park, 
Wedmore Road, 
Cheddar 
BS27 3EB

Opening hours

Mon-Fri: 08:30-17:30 (GMT)

Immediate assistance

+44 (0) 1934 751333
enquiries@allwatertech.co.uk

Water treatment for data centres: why water quality matters to uptime and WUE

Water treatment for data centres can quickly become a broad subject. Cooling systems, humidification, WUE, PUE, rainwater harvesting, reuse, discharge and resilience all sit within the same conversation.

For AllWater Technologies, the most relevant focus is more specific.

In many data centre projects, water treatment matters most where incoming water quality affects cooling tower make-up, hybrid cooler performance, humidification systems and selected reuse opportunities. These are the areas where the right system can help protect equipment, reduce avoidable water use and support more predictable operation.

A data centre does not always need the most complex treatment package. A cooling tower may need softened water. A hybrid cooler may require reverse osmosis because of the manufacturer’s water quality specification. A humidification system may only need a compact RO unit, but still depend on consistent treated water.

That is why water quality should be considered early. It affects cooling performance, water consumption, maintenance demand and Water Usage Effectiveness, often referred to as WUE.

Where water actually gets used

Data centres use water in different ways depending on the cooling strategy, building design and equipment specification. The most relevant uses for AllWater are:

Cooling tower make-up water
Hybrid cooler make-up water
Humidification system water
Selected water reuse or recovery applications

Each use has a different water quality requirement.

Cooling towers and hybrid coolers may use large volumes of make-up water during warmer periods or peak cooling demand. Humidification systems usually use far less water, but may still need treated water to reduce deposits and protect equipment. Reuse projects can offer water savings, but they need careful assessment because the water source, quality and demand profile must make sense.

This is why data centre water treatment should start with the application. The right question is not simply “does this site need water treatment?” It is “which water use needs controlled water quality, and what does the equipment specification require?”

Why water quality matters to uptime

Uptime depends on cooling systems performing as expected. If water quality causes scale, deposits or unstable make-up water conditions, the cooling system may become harder to manage.

In cooling tower and hybrid cooler applications, poor water quality can contribute to:

Scale on heat exchange surfaces
Deposits on wetted surfaces
Blocked spray equipment or distribution points
Increased blowdown
Higher chemical demand
Reduced cooling efficiency
More frequent maintenance
Greater risk of downtime during peak demand

The impact may build gradually. A system may continue to operate, but water use, chemical demand or maintenance requirements can increase. Over time, this can affect both operational reliability and sustainability reporting.

A well-designed data centre water treatment system helps control the quality of make-up water so the cooling system can operate within the expected range.

Cooling towers: why make-up water quality matters

Cooling towers use water to reject heat. As part of that process, some water evaporates. The minerals and dissolved solids in the water do not evaporate with it, so they remain in the circulating water and become more concentrated.

To control that concentration, some water is discharged as blowdown and replaced with fresh make-up water.

If the make-up water has high hardness, alkalinity or dissolved solids, blowdown may need to happen more often to control scale and deposits. This increases water use, discharge volume and chemical demand.

This is where water treatment directly links to WUE. WUE measures the amount of water a data centre uses in relation to IT energy consumption. Lowering avoidable blowdown can help improve water efficiency, provided cooling performance and resilience are protected.

Reverse osmosis can reduce dissolved solids in the make-up water before it enters the cooling tower. This can allow the system to operate at higher cycles of concentration where the chemistry supports it, meaning each litre of water can stay useful for longer before discharge is required.

A useful UK example is NTT’s Hemel Hempstead 3 data centre, reported by Data Center Dynamics. NTT used RO after hard water and high alkalinity caused excess drainage and salt deposition. The system removed more than 95% of dissolved salts and helped reduce WUE from 1.8 l/kWh to 1.2 l/kWh between June 2023 and July 2024.

The lesson is not that every cooling tower needs RO. The lesson is that feedwater chemistry can directly affect blowdown, deposits, chemical use and water efficiency.

Hybrid coolers: a common UK route into RO

Hybrid coolers are popular in the UK because they can balance dry and evaporative operation. They can reduce water use compared with systems that rely heavily on evaporation, while still providing additional cooling support when ambient conditions require it.

However, many hybrid coolers have specific make-up water requirements. Depending on the manufacturer and system design, they may require softened water, reverse osmosis water or another defined water quality to limit deposits on wetted surfaces.

This is often where RO becomes commercially relevant.

If a hybrid cooler specification requires low-conductivity or low-TDS make-up water, the water treatment package needs to be designed around that requirement. This may involve RO with suitable pre-treatment, treated water storage, monitoring and redundancy.

For larger data centre projects, this can mean a significant RO system rather than a small packaged unit. The size and configuration depend on make-up water demand, feedwater chemistry, peak operating conditions and resilience requirements.

Softener or RO? The specification should decide

A water softener removes hardness minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium. This can help reduce scale risk where hardness is the main issue.

For some cooling applications, softening may be the most practical and cost-effective option. It can protect equipment from hardness-related scale without the added complexity of RO.

However, a softener does not remove all dissolved solids. It does not produce low-conductivity water.

Reverse osmosis becomes more relevant when:

The cooler manufacturer specifies low TDS or low-conductivity make-up water
Hardness, alkalinity or dissolved solids are limiting cycles of concentration
Blowdown volume is high
The site needs more predictable make-up water quality
Water efficiency targets are linked to WUE
Reuse or recovery is being considered

This is why the cooler specification and feedwater analysis should guide the recommendation. The right system is not always the most complex one. It is the system that meets the equipment requirement without adding unnecessary cost or maintenance.

How RO can support WUE

RO can support WUE by helping a cooling system use water more efficiently. Its main benefit is reducing the dissolved solids entering the cooling system.

In cooling tower applications, this can help support higher cycles of concentration where the chemistry allows. Higher cycles can reduce blowdown, which may reduce make-up water demand.

However, this must be modelled properly. RO also produces a reject stream, so the full water balance needs to be understood. A good design should consider:

Water entering the RO system
Treated water sent to cooling make-up
RO reject volume
Cooling tower blowdown
Discharge route
Any practical recovery options

The aim is not simply to move water from one waste stream to another. The aim is to reduce total site water demand while keeping the cooling system stable.

Large RO systems for cooling make-up water

Where RO is required for cooling tower or hybrid cooler make-up water, it should be treated as part of the cooling infrastructure.

Key design considerations include:

Feedwater quality
Cooler manufacturer specification
Required permeate quality
Peak and average make-up water demand
Treated water storage
RO recovery rate
Reject management
Pre-treatment requirements
Duty and standby operation
Monitoring and alarm integration
Service access
Future expansion capacity

AllWater’s RO range covers compact systems through to high-capacity industrial systems, with flow rates from 300 L/h to 30,000 L/h. Larger cooling make-up applications are likely to sit in the higher-flow ranges, with customisation based on water chemistry, operating profile and resilience requirements.

Duty/standby or N+1 configurations may also be appropriate where treated water supports critical cooling infrastructure.

Humidification: a smaller but important water use

Cooling tower and hybrid cooler make-up water usually represent the larger opportunity, but humidification is another area where treated water may be required.

Many data centres need humidity control to maintain the correct operating environment. The water demand is often much smaller than cooling make-up demand, but poor-quality water can still cause deposits, maintenance issues or equipment problems.

This is where a compact RO system can be the right fit.

AllWater’s Super Mini RO range is designed for smaller demand, with flow rates of 300 to 500 L/h. It may suit humidification systems, packaged plant or point-of-use requirements where consistent treated water is needed in a compact format.

For humidification, the key questions are:

What flow rate is required?
What conductivity is needed?
How much space is available?
Is treated water storage required?
What is the feedwater quality?
How will the system be maintained?
Does the humidification package need alarms or integration?

A small RO system may not have the same water-saving profile as a cooling tower RO plant, but it can still be important where the equipment depends on stable water quality.

Water reuse: useful, but not always straightforward

Water reuse is an important topic in data centres, but it needs careful positioning.

Rainwater harvesting can sound attractive because it reduces reliance on mains water. The challenge is that data centres often need the most cooling water during warmer, drier periods. In the UK, rainwater availability may not match peak cooling demand.

Storage can help, but large storage volumes take space and add cost. Rainwater quality also varies, so treatment is still needed before it can be used reliably in cooling systems.

Cooling tower blowdown recovery is more technically interesting, but also more complex. Blowdown is already concentrated because it contains dissolved solids removed from the cooling system. Recovering it may require filtration, membrane treatment, RO, chemical control and concentrate management.

For many sites, the first step is better make-up water treatment. That may mean softening, RO or optimising the existing system. Blowdown recovery becomes more relevant when the site has enough water volume, discharge cost or WUE pressure to justify a more advanced recovery project.

When blowdown recovery may be worth exploring

Cooling tower blowdown recovery may be worth investigating when:

Cooling water demand is high
Blowdown volume is significant
Water or wastewater costs are high
There is pressure to improve WUE
Discharge capacity is limited
Feedwater chemistry is suitable
There is space for recovery equipment
The capital cost can be justified

AllWater can support the early assessment by reviewing water chemistry, flow data, cooling demand and discharge constraints. If the opportunity is strong, further modelling can define whether recovery is practical.

What AllWater assesses before recommending a system

A data centre water treatment recommendation should be based on evidence, not assumptions. Before specifying a softener, RO system or recovery option, AllWater assesses:

Incoming water quality
Hardness and alkalinity
Conductivity and total dissolved solids
Silica and scaling risk
Cooler manufacturer requirements
Cooling water demand
Humidification demand
Plant space
Treated water storage
Discharge route
Reject management
Redundancy expectations
Monitoring requirements
Maintenance access

This helps match the right technology to the right water use. It also helps avoid over-specifying a system where softening is sufficient, or under-specifying a system where RO is required by the equipment.

Keeping water treatment aligned with uptime

Water efficiency matters, but data centre uptime comes first. A system that reduces water use but creates maintenance problems or supply risk is not a good solution.

For larger RO systems supporting cooling make-up water, resilience may include:

Duty/standby operation
N+1 configuration
Duplex pre-treatment
Treated water storage
Remote monitoring
Conductivity alarms
Flow and pressure monitoring
Clear isolation points
Service access
Planned maintenance support

AllWater can design systems with monitoring and control options that help operators see how the system is performing. Conductivity, flow, pressure, temperature and recovery data can all support better decision-making.

Planned service agreements also help keep systems stable through routine inspection, testing, consumable replacement, optimisation and reporting.

Where issues are more complex, technical support for water systems can help identify root causes and recommend practical changes.

From WUE target to water specification

The most useful data centre water treatment projects start with the cooling and humidification requirements.

If the cooler can operate on softened water, a softener may be enough. If the hybrid cooler requires low-conductivity make-up water, RO may be needed. If humidification has a smaller but specific water quality requirement, a compact RO system may be the right choice. If water demand and discharge volumes are high, reuse or blowdown recovery may be worth exploring.

This is where water treatment supports WUE in a practical way. It turns a broad efficiency target into a site-specific water specification.

AllWater Technologies helps data centre operators, contractors and project teams specify water treatment systems that match the actual water use on site. That may include softening for scale control, Super Mini RO for humidification, larger RO systems for cooling make-up water, pre-treatment to protect membranes, monitoring to support visibility and service support to maintain long-term performance.

For data centres, better water efficiency comes from matching the right system to the right water use.

Speak to AllWater about data centre water treatment requirements.

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Data centre water treatment is the process of controlling water quality for applications such as cooling tower make-up, hybrid cooler make-up, humidification and selected reuse. It can include softening, reverse osmosis, pre-treatment, monitoring and service support.

Water quality can affect WUE by influencing blowdown, make-up water demand and cooling system efficiency. If make-up water has high dissolved solids, the system may need more frequent blowdown, which can increase water use.

No. Some cooling systems may only need softened water. RO is more relevant where the cooler specification requires low-conductivity water, where dissolved solids are limiting water efficiency, or where reuse and recovery are being considered.

Some hybrid coolers have specific make-up water quality requirements to reduce scale and deposits on wetted surfaces. Depending on the manufacturer’s specification and local water quality, RO may be needed.

Yes. A softener can reduce hardness and help control scale where hardness is the main issue. However, it does not remove all dissolved solids, so it may not be suitable where low TDS or low conductivity is required.

Yes, where the chemistry supports it. RO reduces dissolved solids in make-up water, which can allow higher cycles of concentration and reduce the volume of water discharged as blowdown.

Yes. Humidification systems may require treated water to reduce deposits and protect equipment. For smaller requirements, a compact RO system such as AllWater’s Super Mini range may be suitable.

It can be suitable in some cases, but it needs careful assessment. Peak cooling demand often occurs during warmer, drier periods, so rainwater availability may not match the highest water demand.

Cooling tower blowdown recovery involves treating discharged cooling water so it can be reused, often as make-up water. It can reduce water use and wastewater volume, but it is technically complex and should be assessed carefully.

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Why high-purity water matters in aerospace manufacturing

In aerospace manufacturing, small variations can have serious consequences. Components are often exposed to demanding operating conditions, strict quality requirements and detailed customer specifications. Every stage of production needs to be controlled, documented and repeatable.

Water quality is part of that control.

High-purity water is used across aerospace manufacturing for surface treatment, component rinsing, cleaning, coating preparation, machining support, testing, cleanroom washing and process make-up. In many of these applications, standard mains water is not suitable. Dissolved minerals, salts, suspended solids, organic matter or microbial contamination can interfere with process chemistry, leave residues on parts or affect the consistency of a finished surface.

This is why aerospace water treatment is an important part of manufacturing quality. The right system helps produce water to the required purity level, protect critical processes and support traceable, consistent output.

For aerospace and defence manufacturers, water treatment is not only about supplying clean water. It is about supporting product quality, compliance, uptime, process control and long-term operational confidence.

What we’re covering

This article looks at why high-purity water matters in aerospace manufacturing and how different water treatment technologies support critical production processes.

It covers:

Why standard water can create problems in aerospace manufacturing
How deionised water supports rinsing, cleaning and process consistency
The difference between softened water, RO water, DI water and EDI water
Common aerospace applications for high-purity water
Why water quality should be matched to the process
How treatment systems support quality, compliance and audit readiness
Why ongoing monitoring and servicing are essential

Why water quality is critical in aerospace manufacturing

Aerospace manufacturing relies on precision. This applies to component dimensions, material performance, surface finish, corrosion resistance, coating adhesion and cleanliness standards.

Water is often used at stages where the surface condition of a component is especially important. If the water contains unwanted contaminants, those contaminants can remain on the part, interfere with chemical processes or affect the next production stage.

This is particularly important in areas such as:

Anodising
Electroplating
Surface treatment
Chemical processing
Coating preparation
Component washing
Final rinsing
Cleanroom processes
Printed circuit board and microelectronics cleaning
Maintenance, repair and overhaul operations

In these environments, water can influence part quality directly. Poor water quality can contribute to staining, spotting, uneven deposits, poor coating performance, corrosion risk, carryover between process tanks or contamination of sensitive components.

The risk is rarely just cosmetic. In aerospace manufacturing, part cleanliness and surface integrity can affect performance, durability and acceptance against customer specifications.

Why standard mains water may not be suitable

Mains water contains dissolved minerals and other naturally occurring constituents. These may include hardness minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, along with sodium, chloride, sulphate, bicarbonate, silica, iron, organic matter and suspended solids.

For general industrial use, this may not always be a problem. For aerospace manufacturing, it can be.

Hardness minerals can form scale on equipment or leave deposits on components. Chlorides and other ions can interfere with sensitive surface processes. Suspended solids can affect rinse quality or block downstream equipment. Variation in incoming water quality can also make process control more difficult.

A process that works reliably using one water supply may become unstable if the water chemistry changes. This is why aerospace manufacturers often need a controlled water treatment system rather than relying on untreated incoming water.

What is deionised water in aerospace manufacturing?

Deionised water, often shortened to DI water, is water that has had dissolved ions removed through ion exchange technology. These ions include positively charged cations and negatively charged anions, which are commonly found in untreated water.

A demineralised water system, also known as a deioniser or DI system, is used when dissolved salts and mineral ions need to be reduced to very low levels. In aerospace manufacturing, this can be important for processes where residues, conductivity or mineral contamination could affect the finished part.

Deionised water aerospace applications can include:

Final rinsing after chemical processing
Rinsing after anodising or plating
Cleanroom component washing
Process make-up water
Sensitive equipment cleaning
Laboratory and test processes
Rinse water recovery systems
MRO cleaning and finishing operations

The benefit of DI water is consistency. It provides a controlled water quality that helps reduce the risk of unwanted residues and process variation.

RO, DI and EDI: understanding the difference

High-purity water systems are often built from several treatment stages. The correct configuration depends on the water source, process requirement, flow rate, space available and quality target.

Softened water

A water softener removes calcium and magnesium ions that contribute to hardness. This helps reduce scale risk in equipment and can protect downstream systems.

Softened water is useful in many industrial applications, but it does not remove all dissolved salts. For high-purity aerospace processes, further treatment is usually required.

Reverse osmosis water

Reverse osmosis uses membrane separation to remove a large proportion of dissolved salts, minerals, organic matter and other contaminants. RO is often used as a core treatment stage before final polishing.

In aerospace manufacturing, RO water may be used for process make-up, rinse stages or as feedwater to DI or EDI systems. It helps reduce the load on downstream purification equipment and supports more consistent water quality.

Deionised water

DI water is produced through ion exchange resins that remove remaining dissolved ions from the water. It is commonly used where very low conductivity or high resistivity is needed.

DI systems can be designed as compact units for smaller demand, or as larger automated systems for continuous production. They may use mixed-bed resin, twin-bed demineralisation or other configurations depending on the application.

Electro-deionised water

Electro-deionisation, or EDI, combines ion exchange resin, membranes and electrical current to continuously remove residual ions from RO-treated water. It can produce ultra-pure water without the same chemical regeneration requirements as traditional DI systems.

EDI is often suited to applications where consistent high-purity output, lower chemical handling and continuous production are priorities.

How high-purity water supports surface treatment

Surface treatment is one of the most important areas for high-purity water in aerospace manufacturing.

Processes such as anodising, plating, chromate conversion, passivation and coating preparation depend on controlled chemistry. Water may be used for bath make-up, intermediate rinsing, final rinsing or wastewater control.

If rinse water contains dissolved minerals or contaminants, it can affect the surface condition of the part. This may lead to staining, uneven appearance, loss of coating uniformity or reduced adhesion in later coating stages.

High-purity water helps reduce that risk by limiting the amount of unwanted material transferred onto the component.

In aerospace surface treatment, rinse quality is also important because drag-out from one process stage can carry chemicals into the next. Well-managed rinse systems help reduce cross-contamination, protect process baths and improve consistency across production runs.

The role of high-purity water in anodising and plating

Anodising and plating lines often use multiple rinse stages. These may include static rinses, flowing rinses, counterflow rinses or high-purity final rinses.

In aerospace anodising, water quality can affect both process stability and the final surface condition. If the rinse water contains minerals or dissolved contaminants, these can remain on the component surface or interfere with subsequent treatment.

AllWater has direct experience in this area. In its Aero Fabrications case study, AllWater designed and installed a comprehensive water treatment solution for a new Tartaric Sulphuric Anodising line. The system included a reverse osmosis plant to meet Airbus Spec A water requirements, alongside wastewater treatment for the TSA line’s waste.

This is a good example of how aerospace water treatment often needs to solve two challenges at once: producing high-purity water for the process, and treating complex wastewater so the site can meet discharge obligations.

Why conductivity and resistivity matter

Water quality is often monitored using conductivity or resistivity.

Conductivity measures how well water conducts electricity. The more dissolved ions present, the more conductive the water becomes. Lower conductivity usually indicates cleaner, lower-ion water.

Resistivity measures how strongly water resists electrical flow. Higher resistivity usually indicates higher purity.

For aerospace manufacturers, these measurements provide a practical way to monitor whether water quality is within the required range. They can also support process control records, quality checks and audit evidence.

However, the target value should be set by the application. Not every process needs ultra-pure water, and using water that is purer than necessary can increase cost without improving the outcome. In some cases, extremely pure water can also behave aggressively towards certain materials.

The right approach is to define the water quality required by the process, then design the treatment system to meet that requirement consistently.

Matching water quality to the process

One of the most common mistakes in high-purity water planning is assuming that all processes need the same water quality.

They do not.

A general wash stage may only require softened or filtered water. A high-spec final rinse may require RO or DI water. A sensitive cleanroom process may need higher purity still. Wastewater recovery may need filtration, UV treatment, ion exchange or RO depending on the contaminants present.

The treatment system should be matched to:

The incoming water quality
The process chemistry
The component material
The cleanliness requirement
The required conductivity or resistivity
The flow rate and peak demand
The number of rinse stages
The level of automation needed
Wastewater and discharge requirements
Space and access constraints

This process-led approach helps avoid both under-treatment and over-treatment. It also makes the system easier to maintain because every treatment stage has a clear purpose.

Water treatment for aerospace cleaning and rinsing

Component cleaning is another critical application for high-purity water.

Aerospace parts may need to be cleaned before inspection, assembly, coating, testing or packaging. If water leaves mineral residues, detergent residues or ionic contamination behind, the component may not meet the required standard.

High-purity rinse water helps remove cleaning chemistry and dissolved contaminants more effectively. It can support better surface finish, reduce spotting and improve repeatability.

In some cleaning processes, water quality also affects the performance of detergents or aqueous cleaning chemistry. If incoming water contains hardness minerals, some cleaning chemistry may be used up dealing with the water itself rather than removing contamination from the part.

Using treated water can therefore support both cleanliness and process efficiency.

Water treatment and aerospace quality systems

Aerospace manufacturers work within strict quality frameworks. These may include customer specifications, internal quality systems, sector-specific standards and critical process accreditations.

The Nadcap programme is an industry-managed accreditation programme for aviation, defence and space critical processes. It exists to support quality, safety and operational excellence across the sector. While not every water treatment system will be audited directly, water quality can be relevant to processes such as chemical processing, coatings and electronics.

The IAQG 9100 standard also reflects the sector’s focus on quality management, risk reduction and consistent performance across the supply chain.

For water treatment, this makes documentation important. Manufacturers may need evidence that the system is producing water within the required range, that maintenance is being carried out, that faults are being addressed and that water quality trends are being monitored.

A water treatment system should therefore be designed not only to perform, but to support the site’s quality and audit requirements.

Wastewater, reuse and environmental control

Aerospace manufacturing does not only require high-purity process water. It can also generate complex wastewater.

Surface treatment, anodising, plating, chemical cleaning and MRO processes may produce effluent containing metals, oils, acids, alkalis, suspended solids or other regulated contaminants. This wastewater often needs to be treated before discharge or considered for recovery and reuse.

Wastewater treatment can include pH correction, metal removal, filtration, ion exchange, chemical dosing, settlement, membrane technologies or other process-specific treatment stages.

Water reuse may also be appropriate in some aerospace environments. Recovered rinse water can reduce water consumption and lower disposal costs, but only if the recovered water can be treated to the quality needed by the process.

AllWater’s Marshall Aerospace case study demonstrates this type of approach. AllWater implemented an advanced water recovery DI system for a manufacturing and special processes facility, using ion exchange resin technology and RO water make-up to improve efficiency, reduce waste and support consistent water quality.

Design considerations for aerospace water treatment systems

Aerospace water treatment systems need to be designed around the site, not selected from a generic template.

Important considerations include:

Required water quality at each point of use
Incoming water chemistry
Flow rate and peak demand
Storage requirements
Redundancy and duty or standby operation
Space constraints
Chemical handling requirements
Microbial control
Wastewater characteristics
Discharge limits
System monitoring and alarms
Operator access and maintenance
Documentation and audit trail requirements

For high-spec manufacturing sites, reliability is especially important. If a DI plant, RO system or rinse water recovery unit fails, the impact may be wider than water supply. It may interrupt production, delay batch release or create quality risk.

This is why installation and commissioning should be considered part of the quality process. Correct installation, commissioning, operator training and handover documentation all help support long-term system performance.

The role of monitoring and planned servicing

High-purity water systems need ongoing control. Resin beds become exhausted. RO membranes can foul. Filters need replacing. Sensors need checking. UV lamps, dosing systems and pumps need servicing. Water demand can also change as production requirements evolve.

Planned service agreements help aerospace manufacturers maintain water quality, reduce unplanned downtime and identify performance issues early.

A service programme may include:

Routine water quality testing
Conductivity and resistivity checks
RO membrane performance checks
Resin condition review
Filter replacement
UV system checks
Dosing equipment checks
Calibration support
Consumables planning
System optimisation
Documentation for internal quality records

For regulated and high-spec environments, this support is important. It helps ensure the system continues to meet the required standard after installation, not just on day one.

Where additional investigation is needed, technical support for water systems can help identify root causes, recommend adjustments and support process improvement.

Why you can trust AllWater Technologies

AllWater Technologies designs, supplies, installs, commissions and supports industrial water treatment systems for demanding sectors across the UK and beyond.

For aerospace and defence clients, AllWater supplies high-purity water systems, demineralised water systems, RO systems, EDI units, filtration, UV sterilisation, wastewater treatment and ongoing technical support.

AllWater is experienced in aerospace and defence applications where water quality, compliance and process reliability are critical. The company is a JOSCAR-registered supplier, WRAS-compliant, MOD-specified, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 accredited, and able to support systems requiring UKCA-marked equipment.

The team has also delivered real-world aerospace projects, including high-purity water and wastewater treatment for TSA anodising, plus water recovery DI systems for aerospace manufacturing and special processes facilities.

This experience matters because aerospace water treatment is rarely simple. It requires an understanding of water chemistry, process requirements, compliance expectations, site constraints and long-term maintenance.

High-purity water in aerospace manufacturing

High-purity water is essential in many aerospace manufacturing processes, but it should always be specified with care. The right water quality depends on the application, the material, the process chemistry, the required cleanliness level and the quality evidence needed by the manufacturer.

For some processes, softened or filtered water may be enough. For others, RO, DI or EDI water may be required to achieve consistent results. For surface treatment, anodising, plating and cleanroom applications, water quality can affect part finish, coating performance, corrosion resistance and process repeatability.

A strong aerospace water treatment strategy should therefore consider the full picture: incoming water, process water, rinse water, wastewater, reuse, monitoring, maintenance and documentation.

AllWater Technologies works with aerospace and defence manufacturers to design and support water treatment systems that meet site-specific requirements. From demineralised water systems and reverse osmosis to electro-deionisation, filtration and wastewater treatment, AllWater helps manufacturers protect water quality at every stage of the process.

Speak to AllWater Technologies about aerospace water treatment requirements.

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Deionised water is used where dissolved minerals and salts could affect part quality, surface finish, coating adhesion, cleanliness or process chemistry. It is commonly used for rinsing, cleaning, process make-up and high-purity applications.

Reverse osmosis water is treated through a membrane process that removes many dissolved contaminants. Deionised water is treated through ion exchange to remove dissolved ions to a much lower level. RO is often used before DI to improve efficiency and support more consistent high-purity water production.

Not always. Water quality should be matched to the process. Some wash stages may only need filtered or softened water, while final rinsing, surface treatment, cleanroom washing or sensitive component cleaning may require RO, DI or EDI water.

High-purity water is commonly monitored using conductivity or resistivity. Lower conductivity generally indicates fewer dissolved ions, while higher resistivity indicates higher purity. The required level depends on the process specification.

In some cases, yes. Rinse water recovery can reduce water use and waste disposal costs, but the recovered water must be treated to a quality suitable for the process. Treatment may include filtration, UV, ion exchange, RO or other technologies depending on the contaminants present.

Servicing helps maintain consistent water quality, reduce downtime and support audit evidence. RO membranes, DI resin, filters, sensors, UV equipment and dosing systems all need monitoring and maintenance to keep the system performing correctly.

Get in Touch with AllWater Technologies

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Unit 2, 
Cheddar Business Park, 
Wedmore Road, 
Cheddar 
BS27 3EB

Opening hours

Mon-Fri: 08:30-17:30 (GMT)

Immediate assistance

+44 (0) 1934 751333
enquiries@allwatertech.co.uk

Al Jomaih Cans & Ends Making Plants, one of Saudi Arabia’s largest beverage can manufacturers, partnered with AllWater Technologies to upgrade its rinse water system. The goal: ensure consistently high-purity water while maintaining uninterrupted production in a demanding, high-performance environment.

Case Study Overview

Turnspeed, a renowned specialist in automotive component manufacturing, collaborated with AllWater Technologies to address challenges in implementing a new plating process.

Company: Al Jomaih Cans & Ends Making Plants
Industry: Can Manufacturing
Requirement: Consistent high-purity water with uninterrupted production
Implemented Solution: Two RO plants working in either single or twin pass operation.
Results: Supply of high purity water for process solution make-up and rinsing with <10µS conductivity

The Challenge

In can manufacturing, rinse water quality directly affects surface finish and coating adhesion. Any inconsistency can lead to defects, rejects, and costly downtime.

Al Jomaih faced several key challenges:

Fluctuating inlet water temperatures (15°C–35°C)
Need for consistently high-purity rinse water
Risk of production disruption during maintenance
Dependence on manual monitoring and intervention

The site required a resilient, self-regulating system capable of adapting in real time without compromising output or quality.

The Solution

AllWater Technologies designed and delivered a fully automated Twin Pass Reverse Osmosis (RO) system, tailored to the site’s operational demands.

Key features include:

Automated recovery control that adjusts based on inlet conductivity and system status
Dual RO flexibility, allowing either unit to operate as primary, secondary, or standalone
Up to 90% water recovery, improving efficiency and sustainability

System Intelligence & Monitoring

The system provides continuous, real-time monitoring across critical parameters:

Conductivity (inlet and outlet)
Ionic rejection
Flow rates
Pressure and temperature
Redox levels
Pump performance

Early-warning systems, such as a low-flow alarm on the antiscalent dosing pump, detect issues before failure occurs—preventing scaling, fouling, and unexpected downtime.

Precision Chemical Dosing

To maintain optimal performance, the system manages four key chemical inputs:

Antiscalant
Biocide
Antichlorine

Each dosing tank is equipped with conductivity-based safeguards, ensuring accurate preparation and preventing incorrect dosing. The system only operates when safe dosing conditions are met.

Design & Efficiency

Despite its advanced capabilities, the system is engineered for practicality:

Conductivity (inlet and outlet)
Compact footprint for space-constrained environments
Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) to optimise energy consumption
Proprietary membrane modelling to ensure optimal configuration from day one

The Results

100% uptime achieved since installation
Consistently high rinse water quality
Reduced operator intervention
Lower reject rates and improved product finish
Decreased operational costs
Greater resilience during maintenance and servicing

Client Feedback

“AllWater Technologies delivered a robust, automated RO system that ensures consistent water quality, achieving 100% uptime from the first day of operation, significantly reducing manual oversight. The support from initial discussions through to commissioning was excellent.”
— Hazem AlTaher, General Manager

Conclusion

By implementing a fully automated Twin Pass RO system, Al Jomaih has transformed rinse water from a potential risk into a controlled, optimised asset. The result is a smarter, more resilient production process—delivering both quality and efficiency at scale.

"We have been very happy with AllWater’s professionalism and response times when we have needed help with the plant. The staff are all very helpful and knowledgeable and we are very satisfied with the service provided."

Jamie Davies

Turnspeed

"We needed a DI plant that is capable of producing the processing water to serve our Chemical Process lines twelve rinse tanks, 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week at a max of 20.00 μS/cm. The water plant is now consistently cleaning the water to 1.00 μS/cm."

Steve Silk MBE

Marshall Aerospace

"We have built a good relationship with AllWater and continue to enjoy service contracts with them. They know what they’re doing and we’re always happy with their service"

Andy Best

Production Director - Vertik-Al

"AllWater Technologies installed their pure water system in our premises to replace our old system which went into retirement. The level of service and maintenance that AllWater are giving us will ensure that we get the quality of product and the length of service we are looking for out of our plant. Their level of service is excellent."

John Malone

excel gs ltd

"Thank you for all your support. I have to say that I am really impressed with All Water approach to provide a really good service. Thank you again."

Radu Vitanescu

Liberty Engineering

"AllWater have provided great service, specialist advice and an effective waste water treatment solution for our site."

Paul Pearcy

Warburtons

"AllWater have always delivered us a great service and are equally competent maintaining existing kit or installing new. They’re friendly and reliable and, perhaps most importantly, trustworthy."

Phil Parkinson

Joseph Holt

"AWT professional service allows our site to run with minimal downtime when unplanned breakdowns happen. AWT service is invaluable in maintaining our production lines throughout."

Adam Cook

Qsil

"The person was very polite and explained everything in detail. Report was typed and easy to understand."

Richard Fox

London and Brighton Plating

"We are more than satisfied with the level of service we receive from everyone at AWT. Excellent work, Thank you!"

Daniel Holden

Karas Plating

"AllWater Technologies provide an exceptional level of knowledge and support, and we cannot fault their service and commitment. The team consistently exceed expectations and although others may offer a cheaper alternative, we have every confidence that they could not offer better!"

Eric Allen

Albumedix LTD

"By using AWT we know that our plant and equipment is being maintained to the highest standard using the expertise and knowledge that we find second to none. When issues arise it is paramount that we can resolve these issues promptly; AWT are always there to support us."

Allen Staunton

Creganna Medical

"Using All Water Technologies has been a breath of fresh air. Their attentive service from the first call through to delivery completion, has made the management of our water treatment plant very easy indeed. We wash over 2.5 million items of tableware for the event industry every year, working at some of the UK’s most prestigious events, so having peace of mind over our washing operation is essential. I would recommend AWT to anyone’"

Joe Nisbet

Jongor Hire

"AWT offered Rimex a bespoke solution to our water softening and storage requirements. They took charge and managed the project efficiently and effectively from the very beginning. I am delighted with the outcome and I will continue to use AWT for preventative maintenance and any other future projects."

Daniel Meakin

Rimex Metals

"All went very well with the plant being well finished, installation being of a high standard and all works being completed on time and to specification."

Dom Oughton

Optimum

"We’ve been working with the AllWater team for eight years and they have always been attentive to our needs. AllWater redesigned our borehole system, transforming it into a robust and reliable plant whilst helping us improve water recovery and achieve significant water savings. We’ve depended on this system and their technical guidance for many years now and will continue to do so. Their work helps give us confidence and they are a partner we know we can trust."

Stephen Shields

Huntapac - Technical & Sustainability Director

"At Butcombe, AllWater Technologies have been servicing the water treatment systems in our brewery for over 10 years. They are always at hand when we need them and all very friendly to deal with, and callouts are always made in a very timely manner. They have kept our beer flowing having never let us down.A great company with a quality reliable service."

Simon Court

Brewer - Butcombe Brewing Co.

"AWT were professional and supportive throughout the design, installation, and commissioning process. They played a key role in helping us understand and operate the new system, while providing ongoing guidance that was instrumental in the successful management of our new plant."

James Bartlett

Attewell

Get in Touch with AllWater Technologies

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Cheddar Business Park, 
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Cheddar 
BS27 3EB

Opening hours

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+44 (0) 1934 751333
enquiries@allwatertech.co.uk

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