What Is ASHRAE 188?
ASHRAE 188 is a standard created in 2015 (and updated in 2018) which outlines the importance of a water management plan for preventing the growth and spread of Legionella, a bacteria that can lead to the potentially life-threatening Legionnaires Disease. The standard suggests that certain facilities like healthcare facilities or overnight facilities (such as hotels) actively treat water for Legionella. While this is an optional standard, many local building codes are requiring facilities to adhere to it and create a new water treatment plan or update an existing one.
Those at Risk
While a proper water management plan is recommended for any facility with a complex water system, ASHRAE 188 identifies several factors that increase the risk of the spreading Legionellosis, which may lead to stricter enforcement for certain types of facilities. For example, people over the age of 65, as well as people with compromised immune systems are more susceptible to contracting Legionnaires Disease, so healthcare or assisted living facilities are more likely to be required to implement and maintain a water management plan
Creating a Water Treatment/Management Plan
A water treatment plan can be difficult to come up with, but in order to remain compliant and safe, one may be necessary for your facility. All water systems are a little different depending on factors such as location, type of application being used, and the age of the system. A water treatment expert is able to analyze a water system and identify what treatment methods will work best to create a lasting, compliant water treatment program. FCT Water also offers continuous customer support and a free system analysis with our management plans. Contact us today for more information on how we can help you build a water treatment plan that will last!
Why Tanks and Sumps Become Biofilm Nurseries
Tanks and sumps are some of the most biologically active areas in industrial water systems. Despite chemical treatment, these zones frequently become biofilm nurseries—protected environments where bacteria thrive, spread, and seed the rest of the system. Low Flow = High Risk Biofilm loves low-velocity conditions. Tanks and sumps often experience…
Why Biofilm Grows Even With Biocide
Many industrial facilities assume that regular biocide feed prevents biological growth. Yet biofilm still develops—even in chemically treated systems. The reason lies in how biofilm behaves, not in a lack of chemicals. Biofilm Shields Microorganisms Once bacteria attach to a surface, they produce a protective matrix that limits biocide penetration.…
What Causes DI Bottles to Exhaust Too Fast
Deionization (DI) bottles are designed to deliver high-purity water reliably, so when they exhaust faster than expected, it’s a sign of upstream problems. Rapid exhaustion increases operating costs, disrupts production, and often masks deeper system issues. High Ionic Loading from Feedwater The most common cause of fast DI exhaustion is…
The Difference Between Pretreatment and Treatment
Pretreatment and treatment are often lumped together, but they serve very different roles in industrial water systems. Confusing the two leads to poor performance, higher costs, and premature equipment failure. What Pretreatment Really Does Pretreatment protects downstream equipment. Its job is to remove or reduce contaminants—such as hardness, iron, chlorine,…
Why Your RO Sanitation Won’t Hold Residual
If your RO system won’t maintain a sanitizer residual, the issue is rarely the chemical itself. Loss of residual points to system demand exceeding sanitizer capacity, usually due to biological load or material compatibility issues. Biofilm Demand Is Often Underestimated Biofilm consumes sanitizers rapidly. Even if surfaces look clean, mature…
How to Diagnose Membrane Scaling vs. Fouling
Reverse osmosis (RO) membranes lose performance for two main reasons: scaling or fouling. While the symptoms may look similar, the corrective actions are very different. Correct diagnosis is critical to restoring system performance without causing damage. Understanding the Difference Scaling is caused by inorganic mineral precipitation—commonly calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate,…
How to Lower Cooling Tower Chemical Costs Without Risk
Cutting cooling tower chemical costs is a common goal—but doing it the wrong way leads to scale, corrosion, fouling, and unplanned downtime. The key is optimization, not underfeeding. Increase Cycles of Concentration Safely Many towers operate conservatively due to fear of scaling or corrosion. With proper water analysis and program…
How Industrial Facilities Can Cut Water Use by 30 Percent
Water reduction targets are becoming a reality across industrial sectors. The good news? Many facilities can cut water use by 30% or more without disrupting production—if they focus on the right areas. Maximize Reuse Before Replacement Final rinse water, RO reject, cooling tower blowdown, and once-through cooling water are often…
Preventing Irrigation Emitter Fouling with RO/UF
Industrial and large-scale irrigation systems increasingly rely on reclaimed or impaired water sources. While reverse osmosis (RO) and ultrafiltration (UF) make reuse possible, emitter fouling remains a major challenge without proper design and operation. Why Emitters Plug Emitter fouling is caused by a combination of suspended solids, biological growth, and…
Why Your Boiler System Has Elevated Iron in Condensate
Elevated iron in boiler condensate is a red flag that something upstream is failing. While iron is expected in raw makeup water, condensate should be essentially iron-free. When iron shows up there, it usually points to corrosion, oxygen intrusion, or operational gaps that can quickly damage boilers, steam traps, and…