Pump Action

Tips for selecting a pumping system for chemical treatment and comparing different dosing systems

IF PRICE was the only criterion to influence the buying decision, we’d all be driving around in Toyota Aygos (officially, the cheapest new car you can buy in the UK). But it isn’t, and we’re not. Whatever the product or service you plan to buy, the main selection criteria should always be fitness for purpose and conformance to requirements.

Delivering chemicals in precise dosages and in a controlled way is critical in many industrial processes including water and wastewater treatment plants. In most cases, chemical dosing is carried out using automated equipment. Well-specified dosing systems are accurate, reliable, inexpensive to operate and robust.

There is, however, another equally important challenge for system owners – how to ensure the dosing system they select is the right one for their application, site and process conditions. With several alternative technologies available, dozens of equipment manufacturers and hundreds of product variants available on the market, that choice can seem overwhelming.

There are certain guidelines that will help the chemical dosing system specifier select the right components for the application. At its most basic, a dosing system comprises a chemical storage tank, a metering pump, a control system and associated valves, pipework, and accessories.