Water-related failures in commercial heating and cooling systems can be expensive, time-consuming and sometimes deadly. Modern water treatment chemical programs and application knowledge are more than sufficient to maintain these systems properly and prevent failures, yet failures continue to occur. Experience has shown that in a large percentage of water-related equipment failures, the root cause failure analysis points to one or more of three factors: a) poor operating and
maintenance practices; b) inadequate water treatment and service programs; and c) lack of facility management support for water system operations. This paper uses detailed case histories to illustrate these problems and demonstrate the need for a total management
approach to water system operations.