Underground Water Woes: Why Midwest Water Plants Have Humidity Problems (And How To Prevent Them)

High humidity causes numerous problems inside water treatment plants, but it’s most prominent in Midwest facilities for one reason: groundwater.

In and around the Midwest, most water treatment facilities pull water from the ground rather than surface sources such as lakes, rivers and reservoirs. Because the water is pulled from the ground, it’s consistently 55 degrees or colder.

That means when the air is warm and humid inside a plant, cold water hits it and causes large amounts of condensation to form on everything from pipes to the floor. And that’s a problem.

“With high humidity in a plant, pipes rust and corrode quickly, floors are slippery and it’s not uncommon for lights to pop and electrical panels to arc,” said Walt Waetjen, product manager for Quest Dehumidifiers’ Water Treatment Division.

Controlling humidity helps save money and increases the safety inside a plant. Portable commercial dehumidifiers, such as the Quest HI-E DRY 195, quickly reduce humidity levels. The result: Nearly zero need for sanding and painting pipes annually, because corrosion is no longer a problem.

Additionally, when humidity is controlled plants are safer. No longer is water dripping off pipes, creating slick floors that put staff at risk of falling.

In the Midwest, the problem normally occurs during spring, summer and fall, when humidity can spike any given day. Because most plants aren’t air conditioned, dehumidifiers play a critical role during most of the year.

“It’s crazy how simple and cost effective it is to fix this problem, but we still see it in a lot of plants,” Waetjen said. “That’s largely because painting pipes has always been the solution. But, that cumbersome, costly answer isn’t the only fix.”

About Quest
Quest Dehumidifiers designs and manufactures the most powerful and energy-efficient commercial dehumidification equipment on the market. Based in Madison, Wisconsin, all Quest Dehumidifiers are made in the U.S. Quest is built on expertise, offering educational resources and staff knowledgeable in a range of industries, including water treatment, gardening and cold storage. A division of Therma-Stor and Madison Industries, Quest is based in Madison, Wisconsin. For more information, visit questclimate.com.