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/ Magazine / Managing inlet water in laundries, a key imperative for efficiency
and sustainability
by
Marzio Nava
At the core of industrial laundries and laboratories, water plays a pivotal role. Every washing cycle, often involving tonnes of linen each day, relies on effective water management. Large volumes of water are consumed at every stage, from washing and rinsing to pre-treatment cycles. Yet consumption alone is not the only concern: water quality has a direct impact on operating costs and the service life of equipment. To address these demands, many industrial laundries deploy advanced water treatment systems. The most widely used include water softeners, which remove hardness-causing minerals, and filtration systems designed to eliminate impurities and suspended solids. Some facilities also adopt reverse osmosis technology, enabling high levels of purification and, in some cases, water reuse.
Treatment alone, however, is not sufficient. Continuous monitoring of incoming water quality has become essential. As a result, sensors and monitoring devices capable of detecting real-time variations in key parameters, such as pH, hardness, and contamination levels, are increasingly common. These tools allow laundries to intervene promptly, minimizing the risk of equipment damage and optimizing operational costs.
We begin this in-depth analysis by posing a key question to the first company we interviewed.
Well water or municipal supply? A decisive choice for industrial laundries.
“Municipal water provides a consistent, utility-guaranteed quality that serves as a reliable baseline for further treatment,” explains Ilenia Pozza, Technical Manager at DALMON WATER SOLUTIONS. “With well water, however, the situation changes significantly. Raw groundwater is subject to wide variations over time due to fluctuations in the water table, erosion processes, and infiltration, making more careful monitoring and more targeted treatment essential.”
“Beyond hardness, which must be corrected in any case, as with municipal water, other critical parameters come into play. These include pH, conductivity, and the presence of metals such as iron, manganese, and copper”, continues Pozza. “If not properly removed, these elements can cause stains, yellowing of textiles, and quality issues during the washing process.”
Appearances can be deceiving: even clear water may conceal hidden risks. Bacteria, viruses, and other pathogenic microorganisms must be removed before entering the systems using targeted technologies, such as UV disinfection or high-efficiency reverse osmosis, always paired with appropriate pre-treatments like sediment or multimedia filtration.
In order to determine the most suitable treatment, often a combination of multiple processes, requires a comprehensive program of chemical and microbiological analyses under different operating conditions. “Even so,” Pozza notes, “in some cases, not even this is sufficient.”
You have also mentioned a new substance to be monitored in well water: PFAS…
PFAS are increasingly detected in well water. While they do not pose immediate issues for washing processes, their management is critical: if released into wastewater, companies can be held liable, as these substances are harmful to human health.
By contrast, municipal water generally presents fewer challenges. “We are mostly dealing with hardness, typically between 9 and 12 French degrees, but with consistent quality,” explains Pozza. “In these cases, a standard ion-exchange softener is sufficient to provide ideal washing water.”
Well water requires far more comprehensive analyses and advanced treatments, including systems designed to remove metals that cause the classic rust stains on textiles.
An increasingly important consideration is the recovery and reuse of process water. After washing, water can either be treated and discharged into the sewer system or recovered for reuse. By combining ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis, laundries can recover up to 75% of water, yielding significant benefits: higher temperatures than primary water, resulting in energy savings, and optimal washing quality with controlled hardness and very low conductivity, typically between 200 and 400 µS/cm “.
You were telling us about a flagship project on Crete, where you could see the impact of advanced waste water system in action…
“On 22 May, with the beaches along Crete’s northern coast already crowded, the launch of a new industrial laundry was abruptly interrupted by a 6.0 magnitude earthquake. The tremor altered the hydrogeological characteristics of the aquifer feeding the facility’s well. Thanks to the installed technology and monitoring systems, the water - despite showing values significantly different from the initial design, particularly in total suspended solids (TSS), was quickly brought back within acceptable parameters.
The area was already known for its abundant water, having previously hosted a Coca-Cola plant. The real challenge, however, lay in process water disposal, as the site lacked both a sewer network and surface watercourses. The solution was a water recovery system: only 25% of the daily water demand is supplied from a natural source, with the remaining 75% provided by treated and recycled water.”
And what about the reverse osmosis waste? “In this facility, it is used for the irrigation of the olive trees”.
From our discussion, it seems that collaboration and innovation are essential for reducing environmental impact, right?
“Collaboration with detergent suppliers and production system operators plays a crucial role,” explains Pozza. “We have worked extensively to optimize water quality, not only to maximize washing efficiency but also to improve other technological systems, such as heating, by standardizing parameters like pH, conductivity, and hardness. Achieving balance among all the factors involved in the production process is essential.”
” At the heart of it all is innovation”, emphasizes Pozza. “We leverage every available technology to reduce water waste, recover heat, and optimize processes. But the real added value comes from continuous monitoring of the incoming water, which reflects real synergy between those who manage the water and those who use it. That is where the real difference is made.”
We speak with Ruggero Sammarco, Operations Director Laundry at CHRISTEYNS ITALIA, a multinational company producing detergents, actively involved in the treatment of inlet water and the enhancement of textile care quality.
What are the key water quality parameters that an industrial laundry should monitor?
“At the heart of any detergency process are a few key parameters that laundries should monitor continuously and correct promptly, particularly given the natural variability of groundwater. Foremost among these is water hardness, a factor that is still widely underestimated. In the past, it was wrongly believed that harder water was better for rinsing. This belief stemmed from the use of natural soaps with limited saponification capacity, where hardness helped suppress foam by forming insoluble salts. However, it also created a range of secondary problems that were far from negligible.
Today, we know that hardness interacts with specific types of soil, making them more difficult to remove, such as polyquaternary compounds, sunscreen residues, or certain lipid-based stains. Yet many water softening systems currently in use are outdated or no longer suited to the evolving requirements of industrial laundries”.
Beyond hardness, what other critical factors are found in well water?
“In addition to the metals responsible for hardness, well water often contains so-called transition cationic metals. These elements have a twofold negative effect: they inhibit the oxidative action of agents such as hydrogen peroxide or hypochlorite, while at the same time catalysing the degradation of cotton cellulose, significantly shortening the textile’s service life.
Another frequently overlooked issue is the presence of metals in particulate form. If not adequately controlled, these particles can lead to rust stains on fabrics, causing visible and often irreversible damage”.
What role do salinity and silica have in water quality for industrial laundry processes?
“Saline conductivity is another key parameter,” notes Sammarco. “Water with high salinity, if not properly treated, can compromise ironing stages and result in stiff fabrics. Moreover, elevated salt levels hinder the proper dissolution of chemicals in washing baths, reducing detergents effectiveness.
Even more concerning is the presence of silica, which is common in well water. Whether in crystalline or colloidal form, silica leads to progressive build-up in both machines and textile fibers. Once this damage occurs, it is irreversible. The only effective solution is upstream intervention through appropriate demineralization systems”.
And what about the microbiological aspect?
“Bacterial loads require careful monitoring, particularly in sensitive environments such as hospitals. Poor water management can compromise textile hygiene and elevate the risk of contamination within the laundry”.
How frequently should water quality monitoring be performed in industrial laundries?
“Hardness and metal content should be monitored daily, while silica and bacterial loads should be checked at least every two months. Although these checks involve some costs, the benefits are significantly higher: routine preventive maintenance helps avoid far more expensive corrective interventions. A good washing process always starts with good water: chemically, water is the ultimate solvent, and its quality is decisive”.
From a practical standpoint, are laundries today managing water correctly?
“Unfortunately, awareness of this issue has declined over the years. Generational turnover and the insufficient transfer of technical expertise have taken their toll. Too often, attempts are made to compensate downstream with chemicals, but this is neither a structural solution nor a cost-effective one.
At Christeyns, even though we are primarily a detergents producer, we have chosen to also focus on the treatment of inlet water, providing dedicated solutions. The objective is to mitigate the negative effects of inadequately treated water before they impact processes, costs, and service quality”.
Depending on the source, water requires different treatments to make it suitable for industrial applications. “With primary water sources, such as potable or consortium-supplied water, which is typically chlorinated,” explains Francesco Sardella, Technical Manager at TECHNOACQUE, “the first step is usually dechlorination to remove excess chlorine. This is almost always followed by softening, aimed at reducing calcium and magnesium levels which, when present in high concentrations, can compromise fabric quality (softness and elasticity) and overall washing performance”.
When primary water is sourced from groundwater, the challenge becomes more complex. “In such cases,” continues Sardella, “it is essential to control also the salinity. This requires for more advanced technologies, including reverse osmosis systems, typically preceded by appropriate pre-treatments such as chemical oxidation and disinfection, catalytic filtration, microfiltration, or ultrafiltration. The solution is always tailored to the specific characteristics of the groundwater, which we analyse before developing a technical proposal, complete with a detailed assessment of both capital investment and ongoing operating costs.
The benefits of properly treated, softened and/or osmosis-treated water extend well beyond improvements in the laundry processes. “The most significant advantages are seen in steam generators,” explains Sardella, “which are widely used not only in washing cycles but also during ironing, drying, and sanitisation phases. In particular, the use of osmosis-treated water in boilers allows operations at higher concentration cycles, reducing discharge and, consequently, minimizing energy losses from the system. This translates into direct fuel savings, notably in natural gas consumption.” Not only that: the reject water from desalination systems can often be recovered and reused, delivering an additional sustainability benefit”.
A notable example comes from a project carried out in an industrial laundry in Campania. “We developed an integrated system designed to achieve multiple objectives: reducing chemical use in laundry processes, lowering energy consumption, and decreasing water demand, with the ultimate goal of enhancing washing performance and the quality of the finished products,” explains Sardella.
The project involved installing a reverse osmosis desalination system, complemented by micro- and ultrafiltration units, along with disinfection and chemical stabilization systems. This configuration provided high-quality water for both boiler supply and throughout the laundry processes. The results were tangible: significant reductions in fuel consumption for steam generators, lower dye usage, and improved finished product quality in terms of softness, elasticity, and color retention.
An additional advantage came from controlling pH and alkalinity. “The water had a pH between 5.5 and 6.5”, notes Sardella “allowing for a significant reduction in the chemicals required in washing tanks in many stages of the process.
Overall, the intervention allowed for the optimization of primary water resources, significant cost savings on fuel for steam generation, improved quality of the final products, and reduced chemical consumption.
As it is well known, groundwater has a higher salinity than drinking water. Fed primarily by rainwater, it gradually percolates through rock layers, picking up elements such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and manganese. This process increases the overall concentration of dissolved elements and, consequently, the water’s salinity”.
In this case, the results speak for themselves: the incoming water had a conductivity of approximately 1.200 µS/cm, which dropped below 50 µS/cm after treatment. Hardness, initially around 30°f, was practically absent.
To complete the intervention, an advanced monitoring system was installed. “We implemented a control system compliant with 4.0 Industry standards, capable of measuring process parameters in real time: conductivity, pressure, flow rates- while monitoring for anomalies and alarms. It interfaces with other factory systems through standard communication protocols. Equipped with an on-site touchscreen, the system communicates with other machines and also allows for remote monitoring, enabling full tele-assistance”.
“An integrated approach that demonstrates how advanced water management has become a strategic driver of efficiency, quality, and sustainability in industrial laundries,” concludes Sardella.
The Eureka industrial laundry in Castelfranco Veneto (TV) provides a concrete example of how proper management of incoming water has become a strategic factor in industrial production. Enrico Pozzobon explains the technical and organizational approach adopted by the company.
“Eureka draws its water from two wells: a primary source at a depth of around 120 meters, and a secondary one used only when needed. The water is treated through a reverse osmosis system, ensuring optimal parameters for both hardness and temperature, making it fully suitable for industrial washing cycles.
For the construction of these systems, we relied on highly specialized suppliers, while internal teams handle monitoring and minor adjustments for hardness and salinity. Dedicated personnel have been trained for this purpose, allowing constant and precise control over water quality.
Special attention is given to the presence of metals and microplastics, common concerns with groundwater supplies. In this respect, the facility’s location in the Piave area, with its gravelly subsoil in the Venetian pre-mountain region, provides the advantage of a high-quality aquifer.
The laundry is also equipped with an advanced water recycling system. Incoming water is first directed into a large steel tank, where it is preheated using recovered condensate. The treated water is then utilized both in production processes and for the facility’s underfloor heating, enhancing overall energy efficiency.”
Our attention shifts now to another player in the detergents sector. In industrial laundry world, attention often focuses on detergents, machinery, wash programs, and processes. Yet the single factor that most strongly determines washing performance is frequently overlooked: water. Far from being a simple carrier, water forms the chemical and physical foundation on which the entire washing process depends. Its properties directly influence the effectiveness, stability, and balance of every stage of laundering.
“Water is the real primary component of washing,” says Antonio Ciccarella, Head of the Laundry Division at ÈCOSÌ. “Without a proper understanding of its characteristics, even the highest-performing detergents operate under suboptimal conditions.
Water quality is not always the same. Its characteristics vary significantly depending on the source, whether municipal supply or groundwater, and, in the case of groundwater, also depending on the season. Parameters such as hardness, salinity, and even so-called “minor” components can have a substantial impact on washing results, influencing detergent consumption, cleaning performance, rinsing efficiency, and the final quality of the linen.
Hardness is the primary critical factor. In very hard water, a part of the detergent is effectively “consumed,” precipitating before it can perform its cleaning function and thereby requiring higher dosages. At the opposite side, water with zero hardness does not neutralize detergent but tends to compromise rinsing efficiency.
It is always a matter of balance,” explains Ciccarella. “Water that is either too soft or too hard creates issues in any case, whether through increased chemical consumption or compromised washing quality”.
During the rinsing phases, elevated residual hardness can lead to fabric stiffening, gradual greying, and the build-up of residues on the flatwork ironer. As a result, many industrial laundries operate with water close to 0°f, treating not only groundwater but also tap water, in order to ensure maximum process stability.
But what happens when water treatment is not possible, insufficient, or economically unsustainable?
“It is precisely to address this challenge that ÈCOSÌ developed its AQUIMATIC line.
to chemically compensate for water-related issues when the water is not ideal for washing.”
The AQUIMATIC line, which consists of three products, is specifically designed to support laundries working with non-optimal water. Its carefully balanced formulation of sequestrants, suspending agents, and anti-depositing additives restores the balance of the washing system, delivering immediate improvements in terms of cleaning performance, rinsing efficiency, and fabric quality. For ÈCOSÌ, the discussion around washing water serves as a reminder that true innovation in professional laundry often begins with the simplest, and most overlooked, elements”.
“Water quality is a decisive factor in shaping industrial washing processes and ensuring the proper functioning of equipment. Any effective treatment strategy must begin with a thorough analysis of the water source, whether supplied by the public network or drawn from wells, each of which presents distinct characteristics and challenges”, says Luca Dal Lago, Managing Director and Technical & Development Manager at ITALHYDRO.
“With mains water, the most common issue is hardness, a parameter that can negatively affect equipment, washing performance, and conductivity, meaning the level of dissolved salts in the water. Because incoming water is typically used both in washing processes and in boiler systems, appropriate treatment is essential”.
Which treatment techniques are most commonly used?
“The most commonly used technologies for mains water are ion exchange and membrane-based systems. Well water presents a different scenario, with characteristics that can vary widely, from suspended solids to metals such as iron and manganese, and even bacterial contamination. Treatments in these cases typically combine oxidation and filtration processes.
Part of the treated water is softened, while another part undergoes reverse osmosis to supply the steam generators. Here, water quality is critical: low salt concentrations improve steam quality and boost boiler efficiency. For water used in washing, the treatment level depends on the client’s specific needs and the chemical products in use. Lower conductivity reduces detergent loss and increases effectiveness, allowing for reduced chemical consumption. However, excessively low salinity can compromise rinsing quality, as salts help release soil from fibers. For this reason, conductivity is customised to each case.”
Could you provide some examples of specific water treatment interventions?
“Our operational approach is based on fully customized solutions, covering both the analysis and design phases as well as the implementation of the systems. Among recent projects, one involved a laundry in Agrate Brianza (MI), where a complete system was installed to treat both primary water and wastewater. In this case, we installed an ion exchange softening system for mains water, and a reverse osmosis system to supply the steam generator. Another project, in a laundry in the province of Pordenone, focused on well water. Here, a de-ironing system was installed to remove iron and manganese, combined with oxidation and filtration system to eliminate chlorine residues before softening and use in the washing cycles.”
Based on your experience, what kind of situation emerges regarding the treatment of primary water in laundries?
“From field experience, laundries are increasingly recognizing the importance of water treatment, seeing it as an essential part of the washing process. This aspect is addressed in close collaboration with detergent suppliers, not only to improve washing quality but also to optimize costs. A striking example is steam generators. While just a few years ago, reverse osmosis systems for boiler water were rare, they have now become standard. Even manufacturers of steam generators provide precise guidelines on required water quality, underscoring that proper water treatment is a strategic factor for both efficiency and sustainability in industrial laundries.”
DETERGO MAGAZINE # JANUARY 2026
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