Sustainable Cooling Tower Water Treatment

Hydropath can significantly reduce chemical usage, though the extent depends on the type of chemical. Anti-scalant chemicals can typically be eliminated entirely — as demonstrated at the Amsterdam Data Centre which achieved 100% chemical-free scale treatment. For biocides, Hydropath typically enables a 50–75% reduction rather than full elimination, as most cooling towers still benefit from some level of biocide treatment. Depending on your tower size, more than one conditioner may be required — one for the heat exchanger/ condenser and potentially another for the spray arms in the tower. We recommend a site assessment to determine the right setup for your system.

The Hydropath signal causes dissolved calcium and magnesium ions to form clusters in the water before they reach the condenser. When the increase in temperature at the heat exchanger (or condenser) causes the water to become supersaturated, the clusters form fine crystals that don’t bond to surfaces. Over time, existing limescale deposits also break down as the treated water gradually cases them to dissolve. This keeps heat exchangers clean and maintains thermal efficiency without mechanical or chemical descaling. Removing limescale is also important because it creates a breeding ground for Legionella bacteria.

Yes — in two ways. First, by controlling biofilm (where bacteria harbour and multiply), Hydropath removes the environment Legionella needs to grow. Second, by preventing limescale buildup, it eliminates another key breeding ground for Legionella. Together, these effects significantly reduce bacterial loads in cooling tower systems. This supports your overall Legionella risk management plan, though it should sit alongside your existing water hygiene protocols — including reduced biocide treatment — rather than replace them entirely.

The main benefits are reduced water and sewage costs (prevention of limescale allows an increase in cycles of concentration, reducing blowdown) lower operating costs (reduced chemical purchasing, storage, and handling), reduced environmental impact (less chemical discharge into wastewater), improved system efficiency (clean heat exchangers transfer heat better), and less maintenance downtime. With anti-scalant eliminated and biocide reduced by 50–75%, facilities see significant cost savings. For businesses with ESG or sustainability targets, reducing cooling tower chemicals also contributes directly to those goals. Most installations see a return on investment within 12 months. 

When limescale and biofilm are controlled effectively cooling towers run more efficiently, allowing higher cycles of concentration and needing less water discarded as blowdown. This means you use less makeup water overall, and discharge less to sewage. The exact savings depend on your water quality and system size, but the increase in cycles of concentration from cleaner water typically leads to meaningful reductions in water consumption and associated costs. As an example, a cooling tower system in Brazil increased cycles of concentration from around 4 to up to 20, significantly reducing purge volume and saving water.