Water and Waste Water Treatment
Corrosion-Resistant Products for Water & Wastewater Treatment Systems
Water and wastewater treatment facilities operate in one of the most consistently corrosive environments in industrial service. Sodium hypochlorite, sulfuric acid, ferric chloride, sodium hydroxide, fluoride compounds, and polymer solutions are used daily for disinfection, pH adjustment, coagulation, and other treatment processes. These chemicals attack metallic infrastructure from the inside out, and hydrogen sulfide and other corrosive gases attack it from the outside.
Cortrol supplies a complete range of non-metallic, corrosion-resistant products engineered for water and wastewater treatment applications. From chemical storage and feed systems to flow measurement structures, odor control components, and structural access systems, our products are designed to reduce maintenance, extend service life, and keep treatment operations running reliably.
Chemical Storage
Chemical storage is the starting point for most treatment processes, and the tank must be compatible with the stored chemical at its full concentration and temperature range.
Cortrol supplies fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) tanks, polyethylene tanks, and lined steel tanks for water and wastewater chemical storage. FRP tanks offer broad chemical resistance and structural strength for concentrated acids, caustics, and oxidizing chemicals. Polyethylene tanks provide a lightweight, cost-effective option for many common treatment chemicals such as sodium hypochlorite and polymer solutions. Lined steel tanks serve applications requiring the mechanical strength of steel combined with internal chemical resistance.
Chemical Feed Piping
The piping that connects chemical storage to the point of injection must resist the same chemicals the tank holds, often under pressure, temperature cycling, and vibration from nearby equipment.
Cortrol supplies multiple piping solutions for chemical feed systems in water and wastewater treatment:
- Fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) pipe and fittings provide corrosion-resistant conveyance for a broad range of treatment chemicals. FRP pipe is lightweight, long lasting, and well suited for gravity, low-pressure, and moderate-pressure chemical feed systems.
- PTFE-lined steel pipe and fittings combine the mechanical strength of steel with near-universal chemical resistance, making them suited for higher-pressure applications or chemicals that require PTFE isolation.
- Dual-laminate piping offers a thermoplastic liner bonded to a fiberglass structural shell for aggressive chemical services.
- Thermoplastic pipe and fittings provide a cost-effective solution for many standard treatment chemical applications.
- Custom fabricated spools, headers, and nozzles fill the gaps between standard components, ensuring chemical resistance is maintained at every transition and connection in the system.
Valves
Treatment plants rely on valves for chemical isolation, flow control, throttling, and sampling across dozens of service points. A valve material mismatch in a sodium hypochlorite or ferric chloride line can result in rapid failure, leaks, and unplanned shutdowns.
Cortrol supplies corrosion-resistant butterfly, ball, plug, diaphragm, and sampling valves with wetted materials selected for compatibility with the specific treatment chemical in service.
Pumps
Chemical feed pumps in water and wastewater treatment face a combination of corrosive chemicals, variable flow demands, and the need for reliable, leak-free operation in facilities that often run continuously.
Cortrol supplies corrosion-resistant pump technologies suited to treatment plant chemical handling:
- Sealless magnetic drive pumps eliminate mechanical seals, preventing the leaks and emissions that are a leading cause of pump failure in chemical feed applications. ANSIMAG sealless mag drive pumps feature ETFE-lined wetted components for broad chemical resistance. Finish Thompson offers a full range of sealless mag drive centrifugal pumps in horizontal, vertical, self-priming, and multistage configurations.
- Air-operated double diaphragm (AODD) pumps from RamParts handle sludge, abrasives, corrosives, and high-viscosity fluids common in treatment operations. Their sealless design supports both intermittent and continuous duty.
- Drum pumps from Finish Thompson provide safe, portable chemical transfer from drums and containers during chemical receiving and handling.
Flow Measurement & Treatment Structures
Accurate flow measurement and effective solids management are fundamental to treatment plant performance. Cortrol supplies fiberglass flow measurement and treatment structures from Jacobs Manufacturing, including:
- Parshall flumes, Palmer-Bowlus flumes, and cut-throat flumes for open-channel flow measurement
- Troughs and weir plates for clarifier and sedimentation systems
- Scum baffles for surface skimming applications
- Stop logs and slide gates for flow isolation and level control
These fiberglass structures are lightweight, corrosion resistant, and maintenance free, making them well suited for the wet, chemically aggressive environments found throughout water and wastewater treatment facilities.
Fiberglass Buildings & Equipment Enclosures
Chlorination systems, chemical feed equipment, and outdoor instrumentation all require protection from weather, UV exposure, and corrosive atmospheres. Cortrol supplies fiberglass buildings from Jacobs Manufacturing in sizes ranging from 3’x3’x7′ to 16’x20’x7′, with 8′ high buildings also available. All buildings are built to customer specifications and provide a completely encapsulated thermal barrier.
Chlorine buildings are a Jacobs Manufacturing specialty, designed specifically for water treatment facilities housing chlorination equipment. Pump covers and fiberglass doors are also available for protecting field-mounted equipment and outdoor installations.
Odor Control System Components
Hydrogen sulfide and other odorous compounds are a persistent challenge at wastewater treatment facilities. Odor control systems rely on scrubbers, ductwork, and air handling equipment that must withstand continuous exposure to corrosive gases and moisture.
Cortrol supplies fiberglass (FRP) dampers from Belco for odor control, scrubber, and ventilation systems. FRP dampers provide a corrosion-resistant alternative to metal dampers in environments where moisture, chemical vapors, and hydrogen sulfide rapidly degrade traditional components. Available types include control and balancing dampers, isolation dampers, and backdraft dampers.
Structural Access & Containment
Treatment plant walkways, platforms, chemical storage areas, and containment zones are subject to constant moisture, chemical splash, and UV exposure. Steel grating, handrails, and structural supports corrode quickly in these environments.
Cortrol supplies fiberglass structural products for treatment plant applications, including:
- Molded and pultruded FRP grating for platforms, walkways, and chemical areas
- FRP handrail and fencing systems for safety barriers and elevated access
- Stair tread covers for slip-resistant access on concrete, metal, or fiberglass steps
- Trench drain systems for chemical containment and drainage
- Corrosion-resistant floor coatings to protect concrete in chemical storage and containment areas Learn more about Structural
Supporting Components
A treatment plant chemical system is only as reliable as its weakest connection. Cortrol also supplies supporting components that maintain system integrity across the full chemical flow path:
- Expansion joints. PTFE expansion joints absorb thermal expansion, vibration, and misalignment in chemical piping, protecting stress-sensitive FRP pipe and equipment connections.
- Gaskets. PTFE gaskets provide corrosion-resistant sealing at flanged connections throughout chemical feed and process piping systems.
- Hose. Fluoropolymer-lined chemical hoses from PureFlex provide flexible, chemical-resistant connections where piping cannot accommodate movement, vibration, or complex routing.
- Strainers. Fiberglass basket strainers protect pumps and downstream equipment from particulate contamination while maintaining material compatibility with the rest of the non-metallic system.
Why a Systems Approach Matters in Treatment Plants
Water and wastewater treatment facilities use many different chemicals across many different process stages, and each chemical presents its own compatibility requirements. A corrosion failure in a sodium hypochlorite feed line, a ferric chloride valve, or a polymer day tank can shut down a treatment process that serves an entire community.
Cortrol’s approach is to evaluate the full system, from chemical storage through conveyance, feed, and structural support, and select materials that are compatible and coordinated across every component. This means matching resin systems in FRP piping and tanks, confirming wetted materials in valves and pumps, specifying gaskets and expansion joints for actual operating conditions, and extending corrosion protection to containment areas, access systems, and equipment enclosures.
Get System-Level Support
Whether you are building a new treatment facility, upgrading aging chemical feed infrastructure, or replacing components that have failed in corrosive service, Cortrol can help. Share your chemical service, process requirements, and facility layout, and our team will provide guidance on products and materials matched to your specific application.