Developing & Implementing an Effective Water Filtration Program – Part 2 of 2

We looked at the benefits of asking the right questions to choose  water filtration systems in the first part of this series “Choosing the Right Water Filtration Begins With the Right Questions.”

Now, let’s look at developing & implementing that program and asking some specific questions.

“Properly applied and maintained, water filtration will yield tremendous benefits to a foodservice operation”.

Implicit in this statement is the formula for a successful decision process and meaningful results.  Where does one start?

Step #1 –Benchmark the Current Environment

It’s important that the current environment is assessed properly so the right filtration solution may be recommended.

Once the current situation is benchmarked, water filter program goals and objectives are established, and a means of measuring success is defined; application of the right water filtration equipment is the bridge to the desired successful outcome.  Let’s dive a little deeper.

The Store Survey – the Basis for Success

In most cases, the store survey includes a conversation with the store manager and/or facility person to discuss service history, specific equipment problems, customer satisfaction with beverages and, when applicable, the current approach to filter changes.

Start with a few of these questions:

Equipment Needs, Usage Volumes, and Patterns

What applications will the water-using equipment be used for-  for example, fountain beverages, ice machines, coffee & tea brewers?

What are the usage volumes and patterns of the equipment? For example,  How many gallons of water are used a day? How many carbonators?  How many pounds of ice are made a day?  (The OptiPure Product Selector tool is available to help with OptiPure product selections)

Current Filtration

Does the location currently have water filtration in place? If yes, what is the type and what is it plumbed to?

How is it currently working for the location? Is the capacity too little, enough or too much?

What other issues exist with current filtration?

Filter Maintenance Status

If there is a current filtration system, how frequently are the filters changed?  Who does the filter changes? (Could the location benefit from a program like OptiPure’s FilterTrak?)

Water Analysis for Specific Locations

What is the condition of the local water supply? What is the TDS of location’s water? Does the local water utility add chloramine? Chlorides? OptiPure has water test kits to help with this if needed. Be sure to ask your OptiPure dealer or distributor about how to get one.

Why Are All of These Questions Important?

Proper water filtration involves the application of specific water treatment technologies to manage different contaminants and create the desired result of optimal water for foodservice or specialty coffee applications.  It is important that:

  • The water filter system includes the right combination of treatment technologies for specific equipment and application requirements.
  • The system performance is balanced; this means that each of the different treatment claims, i.e. chlorine reduction and scale inhibition, will deliver consistent performance based on the stated capacity (in gallons) of the system.
  • The system delivers required pressure and flows for the period between scheduled filter changes.
  • The system capacity is proportional to the actual water usage of equipment between recommended filter change intervals.

Once the analysis is complete, each location is profiled and recommendations are provided on a location-by-location basis. The detailed recommendations include the location equipment configuration with water usage and flow analysis, current filtration application analysis, system recommendations and application logic, and a complete location configuration diagram with plumbing recommendations.

Step #2 – Determine Critical Success Factors

To quote well-known business strategist and success coach Stephen Covey, “Begin with the end in mind.”

To do this, goals & objectives for your water filtration program need to be established.

Begin by asking these questions:

  • How will water filtration impact our business?
  • What are our goals & objectives?

Goals & Objectives should be set so financial and non-financial, measurable benefits of the water filter program are greater than the program cost. Benefits are meaningless until they are measured against cost savings or an improvement in productivity.

Then, define key performance indicators (KPI’s) to measure success.

  • What can we measure against?
  • How will we measure success?

Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) are financial and non-financial metrics used to quantify benefits.Once defined, KPI’s are reported on a scheduled basis to measure the success of the water filter program toward achieving established goals & objectives.

Benchmarks must be defined  (per step #1) as a point of reference for measuring the impact of the water treatment program against stated objectives.

Whatever questions you ask, there are three goals you should always be looking for – cost savings, productivity improvements and the impact on revenue and profits.

Need Help?

If needed, give OptiPure a call.  One of our technical support specialists can help answer questions about water treatment for applications.

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