Making the Choice Between Standardised and Bespoke Water Treatment Equipment

In a global economy that relies increasingly heavily on manufacturing, there is a huge (and extremely diverse) number of industries that rely on water treatment equipment & services in order to deal effectively, responsibly and compliantly with their wastewater, contaminated groundwater, or simply require water purification systems.

In recent years, the range of standard equipment designed to deal with water treatment has evolved to hi-tech levels, and so too have the companies that invest in the research, development and implementation of these systems.

However, with this has come the discovery that, in a great number of cases, the ‘one size fits all’ approach is not necessarily right for every industry or individual company. While the initial outlay is more, having a bespoke modular water treatment plant and systems can, in fact, significantly reduce the cost of a company’s effective water treatment in the long run, as opposed to using an inadequate ‘off-the-shelf’ solution.  

Bespoke Versus Standard Water Treatment Equipment

So, the inevitable question is: Should you choose bespoke or standardised water treatment equipment?

The answer, of course, will always come down to individual needs, but even when you have a clear vision in your own mind it can be difficult to apply to this very specialised situation. While this article will cover some of the most common advantages and disadvantages of both sides of the argument, it’s important to employ a company that will correctly and thoroughly assess your requirements before making the optimal decision – because there are certain circumstances in which one would be particularly recommended over the other.  

Standardised Water Treatment Equipment: The Pros

One of the biggest advantages of choosing a tried and tested water treatment system is exactly that: it’s been researched, developed into a prototype (probably tested out in the field), and any issues, problems or defects with the equipment have been ironed out before it comes to market. This means that (in theory) it just needs to be installed and your water treatment system will be operational and, importantly, compliant.

It's no surprise that the cost of such a system will be lower than a bespoke one, because all that initial legwork has been done and factored into the price per unit. Standard equipment like water softeners, de-ionisers and reverse osmosis systems are usually very readily available.

In addition to that, using a standard off-the-shelf solution means that the engineers responsible for its maintenance will know and understand the equipment – having received extensive and ongoing training. Replacement parts are also likely to cost less and be more accessible, quickly – which is hugely important in terms of minimising equipment and staff downtime.

The Downside of Using Standardised Products

The payoff of a significant difference in cost is that, for many companies, standard equipment may fall short of their requirements and expectations. It is, however, a matter of weighing up the price of having exactly what you want, against the benefits of a cheaper system that matches some but not all of your requirements (for example: discharge levels will vary wildly from one client and location to another, as they employ such vastly different production processes).

The Advantages of Bespoke Water Treatment Equipment

It doesn’t require a hard sell to understand there are significant advantages to choosing a bespoke water treatment system – not only in terms of capabilities, but also ongoing operational costs. While in most (if not all) cases, the capital cost of installing a bespoke system is more expensive than standardised equipment, when you consider the effectiveness and the costs spread over its lifetime, considerable savings can be achieved.

An example of this is in a standard twin bed plant used to provide reasonable quality of DI water, which uses a sturdy base anion resin as well a strong acid cation resin. If the incoming water has a high ratio of bicarbonate ions in the anions present, a weak base anion resin in conjunction with a strong ion polisher would guarantee a higher quality water without the need to use more chemicals to balance PH.

For some clients, their particular circumstances may benefit greatly from a different kind of treatment method, including the use of alternative technology altogether – such as de-ionisers or reverse osmosis systems.

It’s actually very rare that standardised water treatment equipment would be the most effective choice for large volumes of industrial wastewater. Bespoke plant allows the client to reduce both the number of components and spare parts kept on site, as well as reusing equipment (such as pumps) at various points, therefore reducing engineering time.

Seek Advice from the Experts

Having a water treatment specialist come to your site to assess your requirements and water quality is not only advisable, but essential if you’re looking to ensure your equipment and systems are as effective and compliant as they should be.

But it’s important to make sure of their credentials and reputation before making any decisions, so their suggestions aren’t skewed towards their own agenda – i.e., solely recommending their own products or technology. Using an independent consultant will ensure you are offered an impartial solution to your water treatment based on your company’s individual requirements.

Considerations of Second-hand Equipment

Second-hand equipment can be a very appealing prospect in terms of cost, and while it’s certainly worth considering if that’s a concern, it’s very much a case of ‘buyer beware’. It’s wise to use the services of a consultant to advise you, so you don’t end up with a great bargain on a second-hand plant that isn’t appropriate for your needs.

(Including something that might not be immediately obvious, such as a DI plant that, while able to produce sufficient volumes of water, requires ancillary equipment that is otherwise not required in your process and could, in fact, lead to problems from inactivity.)

Making the Choice for Water Treatment Equipment

Making the decision between bespoke and standardised water treatment equipment for a company’s individual needs ideally requires specialised knowledge. There are cases and circumstances when high-quality tried and tested off-the-shelf products are entirely suitable, but for (the majority) of companies that have unique or unusual requirements, choosing a bespoke system will help achieve the most effective and sustainable solution.