The average 800,000 square foot building has over $ 24 million of replaceable physical plant protected by treated water.  A production plant can dwarf that number easily when production equipment and downtime are added into the equation.

The average Plant Engineering staff has little chemical knowledge and the fiduciary responsibility for that large investment gets passed down and then out of your organization to a vendor with little or no oversight.  It is a direct violation of nearly all auditing control mechanisms.

Corrosion to your system piping and your heat exchange equipment may cost that average building $2-10 million over the next 20 years, or a lot sooner if things go wrong.  The difference in those numbers will be the quality of your Water Treatment Program and how well you administer it.

A Legionella outbreak at your facility will put you on the front page of the newspaper and generate a couple thousand emails in about an hour.  A properly controlled Water Treatment Program protects you, your employees, and your clients from health risks.

The direct cost of your Water Treatment Program is usually in the vicinity of 2-4 cents per square foot.  It is not a very big budget item but the damage it can do, if not done correctly, is a budget breaker.

With the consolidation in the Water Treatment Industry coupled with a slowing economy, your Water Treatment Supplier may assign you a Rep with 0-3 years of experience.

They write your Water Treatment Specifications; they help you choose the right technology for your applications; they help you competitively choose the best supplier; they help get you the best service from that supplier; and then they help you oversee both that supplier and your systems to keep you out of trouble.

In todays market, with competitive pressures to reduce costs, the introduction of increasingly more complex systems, and the constant change of personnel both within your own organization as well the Water Treatment Industry, retaining a Water Consultant is a must, regardless of the size of the facility. 

Unfortunately, with the consolidation within the Water Treatment Industry, many of the displaced sales reps are printing business cards and becoming instant consultants.  Look to the firm and not the individual when choosing a Water Consultant. 

Here are some of the things to consider when choosing a Water Consulting Firm: 

• The age and size of the firm; How long have they been around and how successful are they at it?
• Are they financially stable?  Will they be there in a year or so?  What is their D&B rating?
• The number of Field Consultants; Can you get coverage when you need it?
• The size and capabilities of their Laboratory; Do they have one?  Is it dedicated to treated water?  Is it state-of-the-art?  Can you visit it?
• Who will be your back-up Field Consultant?  Do they have one?  Are they any good?
• Who are their clients?  Are they similar to you?
• Do they have a relationship with the Water Treatment Suppliers?  They need to work with them and understand their capabilities.
• Are they Independent? If they perform work for the Water Treatment Suppliers they can not work for you.
• What is their core business?  Are they really a Water Consulting Firm or something else in disguise?