Yes, on virtually any pipe material. In metal pipes (copper, steel, iron), the signal travels through the pipe and the water itself. In non-conductive pipes (PVC, GRE, polyethylene), the water carries the signal. It also works through pipe lagging and thermal insulation — no physical contact with the bare pipe is needed.

No — and we’re upfront about that. HydroFLOW® is designed to break down biofilm and control biofouling in water systems, not to sterilise contaminated water. It won’t take heavily contaminated water and make it drinkable, and it’s not designed to kill every microorganism passing through. What it does brilliantly is disrupt biofilm — removing the protected base where bacteria hide from chemical and thermal treatments (such as pasteurisation flushes used in commercial buildings to combat Legionella). This is why HydroFLOW® works best as part of a managed treatment strategy, where it dramatically improves the effectiveness of any residual biocide use and keeps systems cleaner for longer.

Softeners work by exchanging calcium and carbonate minerals with salt in a resin bed, which changes the water’s chemistry — meaning the treated water is no longer suitable for drinking. They also need regular salt refills and maintenance. HydroFLOW® works differently: it doesn’t remove minerals or alter water chemistry at all, so treated water remains drinkable and tastes the same. There’s no salt, no ongoing consumables, and no waste to dispose of. For most applications — especially hotels, hospitals, and any site needing potable water — HydroFLOW® is the simpler, cleaner solution.

No. HydroFLOW® units clamp directly onto your existing pipe — no cutting, welding, or plumbing alterations needed. Installation typically takes under an hour and there’s no system downtime. This is a major advantage in factories and industrial sites where modifying pipework is costly and can cause significant production shutdowns.

It depends on the application. Flocculation improvements often appear within hours. Limescale prevention starts immediately, with visible reductions in existing scale typically beginning 4–12 weeks after installation — though complete removal of heavy build-up can take many months, depending on system size, flow rate, and the amount of scale present. Biofouling control usually takes 1–3 months to fully stabilise. One thing worth knowing: during biofilm removal, you may see temporary spikes in bacterial count as fragments detach and are caught by test dips — this is a good sign, not a failure. We recommend keeping existing biocide dosing at full level initially, then reducing gradually as biofilm clears and the system stabilises.

In most applications HydroFLOW® dramatically reduces chemical dosing — often by 50–100%. Some systems eliminate chemicals entirely; others retain a minimal dose for specific regulatory or operational reasons. Our technical team will assess your system and recommend the right approach.