Main

Large Scale Retrofit Rebate

Commercial Toilet Retrofit Program

Cooling Tower Audit

Certified WaterSaver Restaurant Program

Golf Fore SA

Is the performance of your water treatment program up to industry standards?

Would you like to save money on your water bill, on your chemical treatment costs and improve the performance of you cooling tower? SAWS is offering a free audit that can help you answer these questions and identify methods for improvements.

What is a Cooling Tower Audit?
The cooling tower audit is brief, but intensive, on-site evaluation of your cooling tower and cooling water system. A team of recognized experts will evaluate the general condition of your cooling tower, the cooling water system, and your water treatment program.

What is the Purpose of the Audit?
The audit evaluates the cooling water system. However, it does not evaluate energy management. The purpose of the audit is to help you and SAWS to conserve water. Experience has shown that, in many cases, good cooling performance can be achieved while more efficiently operating the cooling tower system. The audit looks for more efficient ways to use water for cooling.

What Happens During an Audit?
The audit team will inspect your cooling water system. They will sample and test make-up and blow-down water, and will make flow measurements of both the circulating water and the make-up water. They will review records such as routine chemical analysis and service reports from your water treatment provider. They will review your current water treatment program, and will provide you with feedback regarding the overall performance of your cooling system.

How Much Will the Audit Cost?
All costs Associated with the audit will be funded by SAWS as part of their ongoing water conservation program.

How Will I Learn About the Results of the Audit?
The audit team will schedule a follow-up meeting with you. During that meeting, the results of your audit will be discussed and recommendations made. You will have an opportunity to discuss both the results and the recommendations with he auditors, which will be summarized in a written report. You will be given a copy of the report either at the time of the follow-up meeting or prior to it.

What Do We Need to Do to Get Ready for an Audit?
Being prepared for the audit is very important and can help make the audit process go smoothly and quickly. The following should be accomplished prior to the visit by the audit team.

1. Schedule a date and time for the audit.
2. Collect 6 to 12 months worth of log sheets for the cooling tower.
3. Collect service reports from your water treatment provider for the last 6 to 12 months.
4. Collect the product data sheets and Material Safety Data Sheets for all products used in the cooling tower.
5. Collect basic engineering data on your cooling system. This data should include circulation flow rate, design hot water temperature, design cold water temperature, and your best estimate of the heat load on the cooling system.
6. Have someone available to accompany the audit team.
7. Prepare any questions that you might have regarding cooling towers, cooling water systems, or cooling water treatment. The members of the audit team are experts in this field and welcome your questions.

How Can My Organization Benefit From an Audit?
Your organization can benefit in many ways. If your system is performing optimally, then you have the satisfaction of being told this by recognized experts. However, if improvements are possible, recommendations for such improvements will be explained to you. In almost all cases, cost savings are possible through reductions in water usage, sewer charges, corrosion, fouling, and chemical costs. In addition, you may also qualify for participation in SAWS Commercial Large Scale Retrofit Program, where you can recoup up to one-half of the cost of implementing the recommended changes. In all cases, you will be participating in an important effort to help San Antonio conserve its most precious natural resource, water.