All existing cooling towers must be registered with San Antonio Water System. New cooling towers should be registered with SAWS prior to the start of operation.
A cooling tower is an open water recirculation device that uses fans or natural draft to draw or force air into contact and cool water through an evaporative process.
In large office buildings, up to half the water used could be for cooling tower use in this evaporative process. The most energy efficient systems utilize cooling towers for air conditioning. Because cooling towers use vast amounts of water, they must be managed accurately for efficient operation.
Cooling Tower Operation Reminder
- Cooling towers, not utilizing recycled water, shall operate a minimum of four (4) cycles of concentration.
- Newly constructed cooling towers shall be operated with conductivity controllers, as well as make-up and blowdown meters.