The Transformative Benefits of Flow-Tech’s Open-Loop Water Treatment System

Corey Mullikin
Oct 1
11 min read

Updated: Oct 9

Introduction: The Future of Water Treatment for Educational and Healthcare Facilities

Water quality and system reliability are foundational to the operations of educational institutions and healthcare facilities. Ensuring clean, efficient, and compliant water is not simply about comfort or reputation; it is intrinsically tied to public health, building sustainability, regulatory obligations, and the well-being of students, patients, and staff. Traditional chemical-based water treatment systems have long dominated the sector, but their significant shortcomings—including high ongoing costs, maintenance burdens, chemical handling risks, and environmental concerns—have prompted the search for better solutions.

This comprehensive blog post explores Flow-Tech’s open-loop, chemical-free water treatment system as a next-generation alternative tailored to the distinctive demands of schools, universities, hospitals, and clinics. Drawing from an extensive range of sources—including academic literature, industry best practices, recent case studies, and regulatory guidance—we delve into why Flow-Tech’s innovative technology is rapidly gaining traction in these mission-critical environments. We'll compare it point by point to traditional methods, highlight real institutional successes, and provide actionable insights for decision-makers seeking water treatment systems that deliver genuine value—economically, operationally, and environmentally.

Understanding Open-Loop Water Treatment in Context

The distinction between open-loop and closed-loop water systems is essential to appreciate Flow-Tech’s transformational role. Open-loop systems bring in new water from external sources (such as municipal supplies) for use in cooling towers, HVAC, and process systems, discharge some of that water (as blowdown), and cycle continuously, while closed-loop systems circulate the same water repeatedly with minimal external input. Because open-loop systems are exposed to external contaminants, temperature swings, biological risks, and scaling hazards, they present more complex water treatment challenges—especially in large, highly regulated environments like schools and hospitals.

Traditional open-loop water treatment often relies on aggressive chemical dosing (biocides, scale inhibitors), substantial manual monitoring, and regular system flushes to manage these risks. However, this can lead to escalating costs, increased occupational hazards, regulatory scrutiny over discharges, and sometimes, inconsistent water quality or outbreaks of dangerous pathogens like Legionella. Flow-Tech’s chemical-free approach, which relies on proprietary electromagnetic field induction, treats the entirety of the plumbing network at once—moving or static—which addresses water risks more holistically and sustainably.

About Flow-Tech’s Open-Loop Water Treatment System

Flow-Tech represents a new era of water management. Launched after years of petrochemical engineering research, its system deploys a weak, pulsed AC electromagnetic field into the main header of the plumbing network. This signal propagates throughout every pipe, regardless of whether water is flowing, altering the ionic behavior of minerals and inhibiting the formation of hard limescale and biofilms. As a result, minerals remain in suspension rather than adhering to surfaces—a core benefit for scale and corrosion prevention.

Key Features:

Omnipresent Signal: Treats the entire water system, both moving and static, ensuring complete coverage.
Non-Invasive & Retrofittable: Installs externally on existing pipes with no system shutdown, making it ideal for building retrofits.
Zero Chemicals: Minimizes or eliminates the use of hazardous chemicals, reducing both cost and risk.
Validated Performance: Independent testing shows 98%+ biofilm reduction and over 99% reduction in microbial counts in treated systems.
Dedicated Technical Support: Offers both hardware and the expertise/training to integrate the solution for building staff.

Flow-Tech’s open-loop system is available in a range of sizes for integration with domestic water, cooling towers, and process loops across various facility scales—from single schools to sprawling hospital campuses.

The Case for Flow-Tech in Educational Institutions

Critical Water Challenges in Schools and Universities

Educational campuses house thousands of students, staff, and visitors daily. Their water systems are crucial for:

Drinking water safety
Heating and cooling comfort (HVAC)
Science labs and food service operations
Public health, especially for vulnerable minors

Traditional water treatment methods in schools often lead to major operational challenges: excess chemical use, recurring scale buildup in boilers and chillers, fuel inefficiencies, increased carbon footprint, and the ever-looming threat of pathogens like Legionella. Poor treatment can directly escalate utility bills and maintenance costs; scaled boilers alone can raise fuel consumption by thousands of dollars per year for a single school.

Educational Sector Benefits: Flow-Tech’s Value Proposition

1. Lower Total Cost of Ownership

Eliminates recurring chemical expenditures: Savings accrue from not having to buy, store, and manage dangerous chemicals.
Reduced labor and maintenance: No more manual dosing, drum handling, or frequent flushes. System cleaning/maintenance is infrequent and straightforward.
Protects capital equipment: Prolongs the lifespan of cooling towers, pipes, and heat exchangers, reducing capital budget strain for already resource-tight districts.

2. Boosts Operational Efficiency

Prevents scale in boiler/chiller plants: Increased heat transfer efficiency means less fuel use and improved climate comfort for classrooms.
Consistent water quality: Flow-Tech’s signal works 24/7, with real-time efficacy—in stark contrast to batch-dependent chemical approaches.

3. Hyper-Aligned with Sustainability Goals

Reduces carbon and water footprint: Fewer chemicals, less water blowdown, and no hazardous byproduct discharge directly tie into modern green building standards and district sustainability targets.
Eco-friendly learning environment: Supports environmental education by practicing what is taught—responsible water stewardship.

4. Enhanced Safety

Minimizes chemical exposure risks: No risk to custodial or maintenance staff from accidental chemical burns or spills.
Improved public health control: Continuous signal propagation through the whole piping mitigates microbial risks more effectively.

5. Transparent Compliance and Reporting

Flow-Tech systems can feed into remote monitoring and compliance reporting platforms, supporting regulatory needs without added staff burden.

Example: Success at UC San Diego and K-12 Schools

UC San Diego, one of the largest campus utility networks in the US, uses pulse water treatment (PWT) across millions of gallons monthly to achieve cost and chemical savings—a model increasingly followed by public and private K-12 schools seeking to reduce their operational costs and environmental impact.

A further case study from a New England public school district (announced by Flow-Tech partner Aircuity) highlights the integration of Flow-Tech with data-driven air quality systems, supporting both net zero emissions targets and healthy classroom environments. Districts implementing Flow-Tech have reported:

Dramatically lower maintenance on heat exchangers and piping
Documented reductions in operating costs and carbon footprint
Demonstrable evidence of improved water quality, supporting transparent stakeholder communication

Flow-Tech for Hospitals and Healthcare: Safety, Compliance, and Savings

Unique Water Demands in Healthcare

Healthcare facilities depend on high-purity, pathogen-free water for:

Patient care (hand washing, bathing, sterilization)
Complex HVAC systems (critical for infection control)
Laboratory testing, pharmaceutical dispensing, and medical device cleaning
High occupancy and at-risk patient populations, demanding near-zero tolerance for waterborne infection

The stakes are higher in hospitals: Legionella outbreaks or even minor lapses can lead to severe harm, CMS penalties, or legal actions. Traditional chemical water treatment for open-loop systems can introduce secondary hazards—from disinfection byproducts to chemical scalding risk—and compliance costs are relentless.

Healthcare Sector Benefits: The Flow-Tech Advantage

1. Reliable Pathogen and Biofilm Control

Proven science: Flow-Tech is independently validated to reduce Legionella and other pathogens below detectable thresholds (e.g., >6,000 CFU/mL to <10 CFU/mL in a critical care hospital case study).
Eliminates biofilm: The system removes and prevents the reformation of protective biofilms where bacteria can hide from chemical disinfectants, rendering chemical-based risk management plans more robust.

2. Simplified Compliance with New Standards

Supports ASHRAE 188 and emerging 514 compliance: Flow-Tech’s system aligns with the latest CDC/ASHRAE standards for water management in healthcare, reducing the tracking, documentation, and direct intervention required for chemical-based approaches.
Easier implementation of comprehensive WMPs: Continuous monitoring and reduction of contamination enable water management plans to withstand the scrutiny of CMS and The Joint Commission inspections.

3. Safety for Staff, Patients, and Buildings

No chemical handling necessary: Remove staff and patient risk around hazardous chemical storage, dosing, and accidental exposure.
Reduced risk of disinfection byproducts (DBPs): Eliminates frequent creation of secondary contaminants like chloramines or nitrates, which can harm sensitive patients.

4. Consistent Cost Savings and ROI

Decreased utility costs: Reduces scale-induced system inefficiency, saving on both water and energy bills.
Lower regulatory and liability costs: Reduces the risk and financial impact of compliance violations, fines, or patient lawsuits arising from waterborne illness.

5. Flexibility and Integration

Quick installation: Deployable in both new builds and retrofits with no pipeline modifications, downtime, or system contamination risk.
Supports high-purity uses: Complements or replaces complex multi-barrier systems for critical applications like ice machines, autoclaves, and medical device reprocessing.

Case Study: Utah Hospital Controls Legionella with Flow-Tech

A critical care facility in Utah, suffering from stubborn Legionella contamination (>6,000 CFU/mL), implemented Flow-Tech on its domestic hot water systems. Within weeks, biofilm was eradicated, and bacterial counts dropped to below 10 CFU/mL—below detection limits and significantly outperforming thermal disinfection or chemical alternatives. The approach achieved a >99.95% reduction over untreated water and a 98.5% reduction over high heat treatment, with further benefits including:

Safer hot water handling (no scald risk from thermal shocking)
Lower maintenance overhead
Ongoing protection without retreatment cycles

Technical Comparison: Flow-Tech vs. Traditional Water Treatment Methods

The following table summarizes the most critical points of comparison for institutional decision-makers in education and healthcare:

Feature / Metric

Flow-Tech Open-Loop System

Traditional Chemical Water Treatment

Traditional water softeners and chemical programs, while effective under optimal management, are prone to issues of operator error, expense, waste generation, and the continual risk of regulatory breach. Flow-Tech addresses these pain points directly, providing a robust and sustainable solution for critical infrastructure.

Cost-Effectiveness: Real-World Savings

A core reason institutions are turning to Flow-Tech is the compound long-term financial advantage—a function of direct cost savings, indirect efficiency improvements, and risk reduction. Let's break these down.

Direct Cost Savings

Chemicals: Eliminating chemical procurement easily saves thousands of dollars per facility per year, especially as chemical prices and disposal surcharges rise.
Energy: Efficiency gains from scale prevention (1 mm of scale can increase energy usage by 10–15% in boilers and chillers) result in lower energy bills.
Water: By stabilizing cycles of concentration in cooling towers and minimizing blowdown, Flow-Tech reduces both water and sewer charges.

Reduced Maintenance and Downtime

Flow-Tech’s non-invasive system frees staff from daily/weekly chemical handling, testing, and unexpected flushing or cleaning cycles.
Extends replacement intervals for boilers, chillers, and piping, with many facilities reporting drastically reduced scale and corrosion-related emergencies.

Risk and Liability Mitigation

Avoidance of chemical storage violations, environmental releases, and the associated fines or legal actions.
More robust infection and pathogen control leading to lower health risks for schools and hospitals.

Return on Investment (ROI)

While installation costs can be in the $1,800–$2,600 range for a mid-sized system (according to actual customer testimonials), the payback period is typically less than 3 years for institutions replacing active chemical regimens—much faster in areas with high water hardness or expensive chemical disposal requirements.

It is worth emphasizing that many traditional water softeners appear lower cost upfront but require substantial ongoing expenditure on salt, chemicals, and labor, as well as surcharges or compliance costs for brine or hazardous waste discharge.

Environmental Impact: Lowering the Green Footprint

For sustainability-driven organizations, Flow-Tech’s system is particularly attractive:

Zero Discharge of Salt or Hazardous Chemicals: Traditional softener brines pose serious environmental risks, contributing to waterway salination and infrastructure damage. Flow-Tech sidesteps this entirely.
Lower Water Usage: Reduces blowdown cycles in evaporative cooling processes, aligning with water conservation goals and regional drought adaptation measures.
Reduced Energy Use, Lower Emissions: More efficient heat transfer means not only less fuel used, but associated greenhouse gas reductions—a key metric for public-facing institutions striving for “net zero.”
LEED and Environmental Certification Support: Adoption of chemical-free technologies can contribute points towards LEED, WELL, and other emerging green building certifications, boosting institutional reputation and future funding eligibility.
Public Health Protection: No risk of DBP formation, chemical carryover, or accidental ingestion/exposure to hazardous substances—helping protect vulnerable populations (children, immunocompromised patients).

Regulatory Compliance: Staying Ahead of a Changing Landscape

Both the education and healthcare sectors are seeing mounting regulatory demands:

For Schools

Bureaucracies increasingly require water system risk assessments, documentation, and ongoing testing—not only for drinking water, but HVAC and process water, as outbreaks of Legionella have drawn national attention.
State and local standards for chemical discharge are tightening, making nonchemical treatment methods more appealing.

For Hospitals and Healthcare

CMS, The Joint Commission, Veterans Health Administration, and equivalent overseers now require water management programs (WMPs) that address Legionella and other hazards across all building water systems, not just drinking water.
CDC, ASHRAE Standard 188 and 514, and AAMI ST108 require detailed plans for pathogen control, aggressive documentation, and regular surveillance—all made easier with signal-based, chemical-free treatment.
Hospitals using Flow-Tech have found it easier to demonstrate proactive, continuous risk management to inspectors because of system simplicity, digital logging, and observable pathogen reductions.

Implementation Challenges and Risk Mitigation

No solution is without implementation considerations. Flow-Tech is renowned for its easy installation (retrofits often take under an hour per device; new builds can incorporate it early in system design), but buyers must be aware of a few key factors:

System Sizing: Institutions should ensure they select the right system size for their total pipe volume and water flow. Flow-Tech’s professional reps can model system needs during initial review.
Grounding and Power: Proper grounding is essential; installation by a certified professional is required to ensure signal propagation and system warranty.
Verification: Some integrators recommend follow-up water quality testing (microbial counts, scale deposition) post-installation to document improvements and support ongoing compliance.

The primary risk is underestimating the need for holistic water management planning—a challenge that Flow-Tech’s technical guidance is designed to mitigate by partnering with facility engineers and compliance officers from the outset.

Case Studies: Flow-Tech in Action

Educational Setting: UCSD and K-12 Schools

UC San Diego Campus Utilities has leveraged PWT to control scale and biofilm without chemical dosing, citing both operational savings and demonstration of sustainable practices to students and parents.
Public School Districts (New England) implemented Flow-Tech with Aircuity for HVAC and hot water systems. Post-installation, facility staff reported substantial maintenance reductions, diminished energy expenses, and robust validation for LEED and net zero emissions certifications.

Healthcare Setting: Utah Critical Care Hospital

Critical care hospital in Utah faced chronic high Legionella counts (>6,000 CFU/mL). After installing Flow-Tech, counts fell to below detection limits, with over 98% biofilm elimination and marked reductions in maintenance/chemical purchasing. The hospital was able to eliminate high-risk "superheating" protocols, lower scalding risk, and demonstrate compliance with ASHRAE/CMS expectations, resulting in significant bonus ROI through risk reduction.

End-User Experiences and Testimonials

Actual building managers and engineers consistently report:

Easy maintenance – “Virtually maintenance free, no salt or backwash required.”
Clear efficiency gains – “Scale no longer builds up in tankless heaters or boilers; performance stays high year-round.”
Direct operational savings – “We immediately saw reduced chemical purchases and fewer emergency maintenance calls.”
Improved safety and compliance – “No more chemical spills or compliance headaches; inspections are simpler now.”
Positive student and parent/visitor feedback – “Cleaner water, healthier buildings—we’re now a showcase for sustainability.”

Though skepticism was once common, the breadth of institutional installations and published success stories are changing perceptions within both the school facilities and hospital engineering communities.

Market Trends: Accelerating Adoption

The global water treatment market is growing rapidly—expected to double by 2035—as facility managers seek innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions. Major drivers include:

Escalating water and energy costs
Rising incidence of Legionella and other waterborne illnesses
Tightening regulations on chemical storage, use, and discharge
The need for reliable, “set-it-and-forget-it” solutions due to skilled labor shortages
Institutional targets for carbon, water, and waste reduction
Increasing adoption in healthcare and education: as early adopters publicize success, peer institutions follow suit.

Flow-Tech and similar PWT systems are now found across the “biggest organizations,” from tech companies to major universities and hospitals, and are often nominated as a key component of grant-funded infrastructure upgrades for ageing facilities.

Decision-Making Factors for Schools and Hospitals

When selecting a water treatment solution, facilities leaders must weigh:

Total lifetime cost, not just initial spend
Ease of maintenance and operational reliability
Regulatory risk and compliance confidence
Occupational safety profile
Sustainability and institutional reputation
Facility-specific risks (e.g., high water hardness, historical Legionella, energy costs)
Stakeholder expectations, including student/parent or patient/public demand for safety and green credentials

Flow-Tech is uniquely placed to answer all these requirements with evidence-backed, field-tested solutions and strong vendor support.

Conclusion: Why Schools and Hospitals Should Choose Flow-Tech

Flow-Tech’s open-loop water treatment technology represents a leap forward in water management for educational and healthcare institutions. By delivering cost-effective, low-maintenance, chemical-free water treatment that aligns with environmental, safety, compliance, and sustainability goals, it provides institutions with tangible operational and reputational benefits. Decision-makers in schools, universities, hospitals, and clinics who adopt this future-proof solution are not only protecting their facilities and stakeholders but are setting a standard of leadership in environmental stewardship and public health.

If your organization values efficiency, safety, sustainability, and compliance—all while saving money—Flow-Tech's system is the logical next step for your water management strategy.

Are you ready to step into the future of safe, sustainable water management? Contact a Flow-Tech representative or facilities consultant for a complimentary system assessment, and join the growing ranks of institutions setting the standard in operational excellence and community health.

Table: Flow-Tech vs. Traditional Open-Loop Water Treatment

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