You cannot manage what you do not measure. Installing accurate flow meters on the make-up water line and the blowdown line is essential for calculating CoC and identifying leaks. A sudden spike in make-up water usage often indicates a leak or a stuck float valve.

The quality of the makeup source is therefore paramount. Consider three common sources:

| Issue | Symptom | Likely Cause Related to Make-Up | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Excessive usage on the meter. | System leak, stuck float valve, or Cycles of Concentration are too low (excessive blowdown). | | Scaling | White crust on fill media or heat exchangers. | Make-up water is too hard; CoC is too high; chemical inhibitor underfed. | | Corrosion | Rusty water or metal thinning. | Make-up water has high chlorides/sulfates; pH is too low. | | Foaming | Suds in the basin. | Surfactants or organics introduced via make-up water or process leak. |

Water: Cooling Tower Make Up

You cannot manage what you do not measure. Installing accurate flow meters on the make-up water line and the blowdown line is essential for calculating CoC and identifying leaks. A sudden spike in make-up water usage often indicates a leak or a stuck float valve.

The quality of the makeup source is therefore paramount. Consider three common sources:

| Issue | Symptom | Likely Cause Related to Make-Up | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Excessive usage on the meter. | System leak, stuck float valve, or Cycles of Concentration are too low (excessive blowdown). | | Scaling | White crust on fill media or heat exchangers. | Make-up water is too hard; CoC is too high; chemical inhibitor underfed. | | Corrosion | Rusty water or metal thinning. | Make-up water has high chlorides/sulfates; pH is too low. | | Foaming | Suds in the basin. | Surfactants or organics introduced via make-up water or process leak. |